Ch.113113. Things I Cannot Yield

# Artificial Spirit Fresia

The supreme artificial spirit created by concentrating all technological prowess during the flourishing era of the ancient Atlantica civilization.

Fresia was considered the culmination of magical engineering, with a level of perfection surpassing any artificial spirit of the modern age.

An artificial life form possessing a sense of self indistinguishable from that of humans.

Someone once said that sufficiently advanced science is indistinguishable from magic.

But this was a world where real magic existed. The discipline of science had been replaced by magical engineering—a fusion of magic and technology.

Thus, in this world, they had a saying: sufficiently advanced magical engineering is like a divine miracle.

The original purpose for creating Fresia in Atlantica was because of the giant god-machine, Colossus.

After pouring all their technology into creating the enormous god-machine, Atlantica discovered that ordinary artificial spirits couldn’t control the Colossus due to its excessive technological complexity.

While basic operation wasn’t an issue, the problem was that they couldn’t fully utilize the Colossus’s capabilities.

So they began developing an artificial spirit that could perfectly draw out the Colossus’s performance, and the result was Fresia.

But something unexpected happened even to them—Fresia developed a sense of self indistinguishable from a human’s.

The magical engineers of Atlantica, who had already been creating highly intelligent artificial spirits with ease, could only describe Fresia’s birth as a miracle.

Until then, it had been accepted that no matter how meticulously an artificial spirit was crafted, there was a limit to the level of intelligence it could possess.

Going beyond that limit meant creating a soul, which was considered miraculous—the domain of gods.

Yet, amusingly enough, they succeeded. Through their highly advanced magical engineering, they achieved a miracle.

Fresia possessed self-awareness and a soul.

But who could have known?

That this would become the catalyst for Atlantica’s downfall.

The transcendent artificial spirit and the god-machine fueled human greed.

“If I could just obtain that, I could rule the world.” Such primal emotions captivated humanity.

As a result, Atlantica walked the path to destruction through internal division. After a bitter struggle, it quietly retreated into the annals of history.

After Atlantica’s fall, the survivors desperately searched for the Colossus and Fresia. It was the great empire of Atlantica that had fallen, not humanity itself.

But no one could find the Colossus or Fresia. As if they were powers not meant for human possession, they vanished without leaving a single clue.

As time passed and new nations sprouted up everywhere, with Atlantica becoming just a page in history, the Colossus and Fresia would once again emerge into the world.

Through the one later known as the Conqueror King, the Greatest Conqueror, or the Lion King—Terodamas.

***

Gilbert finally felt all the puzzle pieces falling into place.

The reason Ian had become quieter lately and had been able to build up skills sufficient to enter the student council was all thanks to discovering Fresia.

Created during the most brilliant flowering of magical engineering, Fresia boasted such tremendous capabilities that users referred to her as the “supreme artificial spirit.”

Not only could she perfectly control Colossus, the 0-tier god-machine of Tactical Combat, but she also provided hidden pieces from the Atlantica era and growth quests to help users develop.

What made users so enthusiastic about Fresia was her high-level AI that was indistinguishable from regular NPC characters, unlike other artificial spirits. While even the most advanced artificial spirits couldn’t escape mechanical responses, Fresia was the exception.

From everyday conversation to combat advice, Fresia was the perfect artificial spirit capable of it all.

Particularly because Fresia was created in female form, she enjoyed cult-like popularity among users. It was so extreme that a new term, “spirit-obsessed,” emerged in the community.

Fresia’s characteristically high pride and her tendency to become infinitely gentle only toward the master with whom she had contracted perfectly targeted users’ preferences.

Gilbert himself had frequently taken routes to obtain Fresia. Since achievement completion itself was quite difficult, he had numerous achievements cleared with Fresia’s help.

Back then, Gilbert often exchanged jokes with Fresia. Their relationship was more bickering than affectionate, but their synergy was comparable to that with CT-777.

She provided combat support at just the right moments.

Like a back scratcher that knew exactly where to scratch.

Of course, he had suffered a bit when she got upset after he said that.

Gilbert emerged from his reverie with a slight smile.

More importantly, how did that guy get her?

Gilbert had one more concern. He wondered exactly how Ian had obtained Fresia.

While Fresia was undoubtedly the finest artificial spirit, acquiring her was quite arduous.

To obtain Fresia through the standard method, one had to clear numerous connected scenarios, similar to when Gilbert had previously obtained the Lion King’s mana cultivation technique, Lionheart. The difficulty level of obtaining Fresia was much higher, but the complexity of scenarios that needed clearing was comparable.

Of course, if one became a veteran player, knowing Fresia’s location meant it was possible to obtain her early on if one had the skills.

Fresia could only be obtained by entering a hidden passage in this Demeia Academy, but there was a puzzle that needed solving to gain entry.

First, one needed to possess the sword reportedly used by the Lion King.

This sword had been passed down as a family heirloom of Ian’s family, the Linebarrel house, so it could be easily obtained with the family head’s approval.

After entering the passage with the sword, one could reach the space where Fresia slept after passing through various gimmicks and clearing several trial-like challenges.

To be honest, passing through the gimmicks was impossible without a certain level of ability, but when did veteran players ever care about that?

They could just walk in like taking a stroll and retrieve her, so obtaining Fresia early wasn’t unreasonable.

In Gilbert’s case, since he hadn’t possessed Ian, he had given up on Fresia from the start. Stealing the Linebarrel family heirloom sword would have carried too great a risk, and he had been thinking of CT-777 as a substitute for Fresia, so he had considered letting Ian have Fresia.

Of course, the moment he learned Ian was taking the chuunibyou route, that plan went straight into the trash.

So he had thought he would never see Fresia again, yet somehow Ian had obtained her.

Objectively, with his skills, passing through the gateway to Fresia should have been impossible. Unless he possessed abilities comparable to Gilbert’s, it was absolutely impossible.

After pondering various possibilities, Gilbert looked askance at Ian, who was quietly laughing to himself.

Isn’t this what they call “pearls before swine”?

Still, having Fresia’s assistance would help clear the main scenario better than before. That is, if Ian followed Gilbert well.

Gilbert couldn’t shake the feeling of regret. If only it had been before the contract, he could have used her together with CT-777 to maximize synergy.

Wait a minute. After the contract?

Gilbert’s eyes widened.

One thing he hadn’t considered because he had regarded it as a mixed blessing.

“Your mech is awesome.”

Gilbert unconsciously recalled his characteristic skill.

Perhaps Ian obtaining Fresia and forming a contract with her might be of greater help to him than he thought.

***

After Professor Alexander’s lecture ended, Gilbert began to seriously consider.

His characteristic skill, “Your Mech Is Awesome,” was a skill that could steal an artificial spirit someone else had formally contracted with, and a concept-focused characteristic skill that only demonstrated its true effectiveness when used that way.

The effect was similar to Ian’s characteristic skill, but its performance was superior.

A sense of liberation beyond just feeling connected, as if becoming the god-machine itself.

Being a skill created for concept play, it had powerful usage penalties, but its effect was undeniable. If he could use it, he would want to use it continuously.

However, finding contracted artificial spirits wasn’t easy, and since obtaining CT-777 provided enough support to compensate for his characteristic skill, he had half-sealed it.

But if that artificial spirit was Fresia, it was more than worth trying. He couldn’t even begin to imagine what kind of synergy would emerge if he could use both Fresia and the still-growing CT-777 simultaneously.

Ian probably knew that value too, which is why he kept her close, but opportunities could come at any time. Hadn’t he previously stolen and used an artificial spirit that Ian had temporarily contracted during the main scenario?

Of course, such opportunities wouldn’t come easily, but if he could get even one moment, it was worth aiming for.

One concern was if the proud Fresia would reject him. Given her high level of concentrated technology, she might resist his characteristic skill.

He vaguely thought that a characteristic skill supported by the system would somehow work, but it was definitely worth trying.

I’ve learned something good.

Gilbert’s mood improved for no particular reason.

“Gilbert! I’m here!”

Maybe I should take that back.

Gilbert’s face stiffened slightly as he saw Camilla waving with an infinitely bright smile.

Fortunately, since Brynhild had gone to the training room, he wouldn’t have to see the two of them bickering.

“What were you thinking about that you didn’t notice me calling for so long?”

“Well…”

“Ah! Let me guess. Hmm… Gilbert, you were thinking about me, weren’t you?”

How about that? Did I get it right?

Seeing her crossing her arms triumphantly, he felt a headache coming on that wasn’t there before.

He did find comfort in such behavior, but getting a headache in return was like giving medicine and disease at the same time.

“That’s impossible.”

“Don’t be shy! I, Gilbert’s best! friend, understand everything.”

“So what brings you here today?”

“Ah! Right. Look at me. Gilbert, did you secretly do something fun again?”

Something fun?

All he had done today was quietly attend lectures.

He had been trying to restrain himself a bit after his recent stunt of defeating 100 opponents, but what was this about causing trouble?

It was news to him as well.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Huh? That’s strange. The next successor to the Summer Spear has set up a stage and is waiting for Gilbert?”

Seeing Camilla tilting her head in confusion, Gilbert realized he had been caught up in yet another troublesome situation.

“Where is that?”

“Just follow me!”

What has that little Edel done this time?

Gilbert sighed deeply as he followed Camilla, who was hopping along ahead of him, with quick steps.