episode_0147

“… … .”

The completed hive mind showed no particular reaction. All I could see was a heart pounding. It was natural since there were no physical organs that could move or vocalize.

However, as a warlock who created the hive mind in the form of a chimera, it felt clear to me. That the hive mind in front of you was created completely.

Based on the mage who was the main and leading member of the hive mind, it was clearly felt that dozens of ordinary individual souls were subordinate to the mage beside her.

Naturally, the hive mind in this state was not particularly useful. It was only useful to start using various systems using the mind that had become bigger.

“First, we need to create a storage space.”

Also, in order to utilize the system, it was necessary to store the hive mind in a safe place. If you look at it closely, it’s no different from an undead with just a head.

It’s going to be a system that runs through my entire estate, but even though it’s my studio, I couldn’t leave it in a place that’s clearly visible. It was safest to bury it in the ground like a repeater skeleton.

In order to bury the hive mind underground, dozens of skeletons were taken out. Of course, the skeletons also prepared shovels and pickaxes to dig up the ground.

After completing preparations, we immediately broke down the floor of the studio using skeletons and began digging the ground a little deeper underneath. They dug up the hard ground with a pickaxe and dug up the pile of dirt with a shovel.

Of course, since we dug into the ground with a slight incline, we took care to make it possible to go down and come back up. Since it wasn’t enough to just bury the hive mind, there was a need to first go down and then come back up.

Anyway, when a cavity of the appropriate size was created in such a deep place, it stopped the skeletons that were digging the ground. Then, he lifted the Hive Mind, which was still beating like a heartbeat, and ordered it to be carried down to a cavity created deep underground.

I watched as the skeletons lifted the Hive Mind, which could not move on its own, like a piece of luggage and went down through a large hole in a corner of the studio. Although it was tilted precariously, the skeletons holding the hive mind quickly descended into the underground cavity.

“Let’s see… … . I definitely made something as a spare.”

After watching the Hive Mind being lifted down by the skeletons for a moment, it began to search around the workroom. This is because the hive mind was not particularly useful when left alone. We needed something that could support the hive mind.

It is a hive mind that subordinates several souls and has a huge mind that can think at extremely high speeds, but to be honest, it is not very useful when left alone.

It was a deeply rooted memory, so if I were to compare it to one of the memories from my past life that still remains, the hive mind was like a computer. To be exact, a computer without any peripherals.

I still remembered that peripheral devices such as a monitor, keyboard, and mouse were needed to fully utilize the computer.

And, I had already made enough of the peripheral devices. There was no need to go far, and even a Skeleton Mage could be fully utilized as a peripheral device.

However, it was not the Skeleton Mage that would be used as a peripheral device now. Using a Skeleton Mage could have some effect, but since the work had to be done through a Skeleton Mage, it was like creating a useless additional process.

“Ah, it’s here. Repeater Skeleton.”

What I needed to achieve the results I wanted without using a skeleton mage was a repeater skeleton.

It was intended to give the Hive Mind control over the undead in the city so that it could manage its own residents and respond efficiently when emergencies occurred.

In particular, in order to manage the residents of the territory, it was necessary to have the ability to control the undead in the city.

The undead going around to collect taxes may seem like a threatening act, so even if you hire a tax collector, you need undead who can support the collector and provide information so that he can collect the correct taxes.

Under one system, connection with the repeater skeleton was necessary not only for managing the residents and collecting taxes, but also for defense measures encompassing the entire city.

Anyway, after taking the repeater skeleton that I had made as a spare, I went straight down to the underground cavity. Since there were no separate stairs, I slid down the dark passage as if I was riding a snow sled.

The skeletons that had already descended into the underground cavity had placed the Hive Mind correctly in the center of the cavity. I approached the hive mind and placed the separately brought repeater skeletons nearby.

Afterwards, the repeater skeleton was immediately connected to the hive mind. Unlike subjugating the soul of an ordinary entity, it was simply connected. It was literally meant to be a relay so that the Hive Mind could control the undead in the city.

“Uh… … !”

And, at the same time, I got a strange feeling. It felt like a wave centered on the hive mind was spreading throughout the surrounding area.

It could be said that such a sensation was felt because repeater skeletons were spread throughout the city. I felt like I felt a wave-like sensation as I passed through the directly connected repeater skeleton and through other repeater skeletons all at once.

[Owner.]

After such a wave swept through my surroundings, I heard a voice in my head. It was the voice of the hive mind.

However, I don’t know if it was because dozens of souls were subordinated and merged into one, but it felt like dozens of voices were being heard at the same time. It wasn’t a very nice voice.

Of course, the tone of the voice was unpleasant, but there was no sign that the hive mind was rebelling against me or anything like that. Because he was basically a chimera and undead born through my dark magic, absolute obedience was the default.

[If there is anything you want from me, please let me know at any time.]

Rather, he realized that the reason he was created was because of my need, and he started talking to me, asking me to give him instructions.

It seemed like he was already demonstrating his enlarged ego and faster thinking speed.

And, in response to Hive Mind’s request for something to do, I decided to give it something to do right away. I had no choice but to give it to him because he wanted a job. Although I had no intention of not giving it to you.

“First of all, there is one thing I want to check. Is it possible to detect living things throughout the city?”

[It is possible. If you use the undead that the master has named a surveillance skeleton, you can sufficiently detect living things in the surrounding area. However, in the case of small creatures with weak vitality, it is nearly impossible to detect them.]

When I heard that they could detect life within the entire city, I clenched my fists without realizing it.

Being able to detect living things throughout the city was useful in many ways. It was possible to identify people trying to access important areas in advance, determine the exact population in the city, and monitor people trying to enter the city.

“Then… … . Is it possible to remember the entire creature one by one? Not on trivial things, but on the basis of sub-races, including humans.”

[When you say remember, how do you mean remembering?]

“You remember things like your name, date of birth, and occupation. In addition, you must be able to detect the living entity and recall its memory at the same time.”

[This is not a difficult task.]

The hive mind, which used its huge ego and faster thinking speed to grasp possibilities in an instant, responded positively to my words.

“Then, remember the living creatures from now on. Later, I will use the undead separately to provide information on each creature, so just figure out the creatures first.”

When instructed to prioritize identifying life forms, the hive mind immediately began detecting life forms in the surrounding area. The goal was to identify living creatures within the city using a surveillance skeleton through a repeater skeleton.

Naturally, since there were more than one or two people in the city, it took some time for the Hive Mind to identify and remember each living creature.

“I’m going to go up and block the entrance, but call me when I’m finished or if anything unusual happens.”

[I understand.]

Leaving behind the Hive Mind, which responded lightly, I went up to the workroom with the skeletons that were no longer needed here. Of course, because it was so steep, I was lifted by skeletons.

So I came up to the studio and neatly plugged the hole I had dug. Since the hive mind was completed, that was unlikely to happen, but it was meant to be blocked in case someone broke into the studio. It didn’t matter because the Hive Mind wasn’t the type of undead that would feel lonely if they were alone.

And, after leaving the hive mind behind and returning to the studio, I decided to call the village chief and give instructions to the residents regarding matters related to the village system.

Even though it was possible to detect life forms throughout the city, they had to register the information themselves. The plan was to instruct outsiders to register as well for overall management.

Although it is being done so suddenly now, the plan was to have all processes handled at the checkpoints entering and exiting the city from now on.

Of course, the purpose of the hive mind was not simply to manage the territory’s residents, so the soldier commander was also called. The goal was to prevent crime in real time by using the hive mind, which can detect living things throughout the city.

The idea was to be able to take quick action if a crime was about to occur or had already occurred. Since the entire process could not be handled with skeletons alone, a territory army made up of humans had to be mobilized through the commander of the unit.

As the process progressed and the hive mind began to perform its role in earnest, it became an essential element in the city.

It was natural that it could be called a ‘city management system’ rather than a hive mind as it had an impact on managing the residents of the territory and maintaining public order, and even comprehensively managed aspects related to entering and exiting the city.

Thanks to this, the areas I need to pay attention to have been reduced significantly. There used to be new things to worry about every day, but now it can be said that even if I take a long break, not much happens.