[Class: Witch of Falsehood (Demigod Rank)]
[Ritual: Create a false illusionary realm and have over ten thousand intelligent lifeforms live within it for a period of time, regarding it as a real and true world.]
[Note 1: The longer the intelligent lifeforms live there and the greater their number, the stronger the effect of the ritual.]
[Note 2: Minimum number of people is ten thousand, minimum living time is 7 days.]
After getting the Class that Kuesu Jingūji had deduced from Kikyo, Luo Shu immediately understood her idea. "You plan to use the soon-to-be-released virtual game to perform the ritual?"
"I have such an idea."
In Kuesu Jingūji's violet eyes, streaks of brilliant gold, like the rings of a tree, flashed.
That was the operating principle of Yggdrasil, which she had replicated through her research on the Tree of Ages that had evolved into Yggdrasil.
"By utilising Yggdrasil and the existing virtual equipment, I can currently create a false dreamscape with Yggdrasil as its core, capable of accommodating twenty million people at the same time."
"According to the virtual game proposal Meer sent over before, I will call this false dreamscape Yggdrasil."
"In addition, the games you had people design have already begun preliminary construction within the Yggdrasil game."
"Including Aincrad?" Luo Shu asked curiously.
To this, Kuesu Jingūji just glanced at Luo Shu. Although she was puzzled as to why he singled out Aincrad, she still said, "The floating island Aincrad?"
"If it's that game map, thanks to the active work of the virtual game design department, the first 80 floors have already been created. It's considered one of the games with the fastest progress at the moment."
"That game... you're probably using it to test the game's performance, right?"
Hearing Kuesu Jingūji's explanation, Luo Shu suddenly fell silent.
It wasn't that he didn't know what to say, but that he was urgently contacting Tabane Shinonono, who was in charge of this part of the work, to ask if there was a member in the virtual game design department named Akihiko Kayaba.
The moment he heard that Aincrad's design was progressing the fastest, Luo Shu realised the problem.
'Don't tell me the peripheral industries under my command have found the original designer of Aincrad?'
Before long, Tabane Shinonono quickly responded through the Divine Pantheon:
[Tabane Shinonono: Kayaba? Oh yeah, there's a guy like that. He has a lot of ideas for the virtual game's physics engine design, so he's a talent, just about. The reason I remember him is that he contributed 30% of Aincrad's design progress all by himself, so that's why. Well, in terms of personality, he's a super workaholic that I absolutely can't get along with~]
[Tabane Shinonono: Wait, Luo Shu, you're not thinking of pulling him into Copernicus to work, are you? No way, no way! Just seeing the passion of that kind of fanatic would be enough to burn me to a crisp!!]
[Tabane Shinonono: But speaking of which, why are you asking about Kayaba? Has a Familia member already recommended him to you?]
[Luo Shu: ...]
'Can't this girl give me a chance to reply? Why send so many messages at once?'
[Tabane Shinonono: I suggest you don't recruit him, Luo Shu. That man Kayaba has a very strange personality. If he comes into contact with the mystic side, I'm afraid I won't be able to find such a handy tool anymore. And with his personality, he'll definitely go all out to research supernatural powers!! So even if you're going to pull him into the SDS's periphery, you have to wait until this virtual game project is over!! Otherwise, I'll go on strike!!]
Looking at the messages Tabane Shinonono sent one after another, Luo Shu complained about her messaging speed while a subtle sense of absurdity welled up in his heart.
'So the villain from the first act of the light novel Sword Art Online, the starting point of everything, is really working under me right now?'
'And you, Tabane Shinonono, saying you absolutely can't get along, that you'd be burnt to a crisp... you're just worried that his enthusiasm for overtime will affect your slacking off, aren't you?'
[Luo Shu: I have no intention of recruiting him at the moment. However, I personally think this man's ideas are a bit dangerous. Keep an eye on him for me for the time being.]
As for why he said Akihiko Kayaba's ideas were dangerous?
A madman who, in the original story, imprisoned ten thousand people in a virtual game and caused four thousand deaths... It would be strange if his ideas weren't dangerous.
Luo Shu even suspected that the virtual game he wanted to launch had already become the medium through which that man carried out such an insane act.
But that being said, while the other party's actions were insane, he was still capable.
After all, in the original story, he had managed to design a virtual game with just a small team. Now, with the assistance of the SDS's numerous researchers and the influence of cutting-edge scientific theories, it would be strange if his abilities didn't improve.
He was capable, but his ideas were dangerous. He could be controlled, but more precautions were necessary.
If this had been before he met Kuesu Jingūji, Luo Shu would have definitely suppressed Akihiko Kayaba's bold ideas for the sake of the virtual game's profits.
But with Kuesu Jingūji in the picture, Luo Shu's thoughts had changed.
Perhaps he could instead use Akihiko Kayaba's recklessness to help Kuesu Jingūji complete her advancement ritual.
A Demigod Familia member was far, far more important than the profits from a virtual game...
Besides, it wasn't as if Luo Shu had no way of manipulating this matter to achieve a win-win outcome.
At this thought, Luo Shu pondered for a moment before speaking to Kuesu Jingūji.
"Next, relax your body and mind. I'm going to transfer some information to you."
Hearing this, Kuesu Jingūji glanced at Luo Shu. Without refuting him, she simply closed her eyes slowly.
Seeing this, Luo Shu immediately used Possession on Yukino Yukinoshita, borrowing her Class, Fairy of Knowledge. He compressed the information in his mind regarding Akihiko Kayaba's goals and actions into a data stream. Then, pointing his fingertip at Kuesu Jingūji's forehead, he input the compressed information into her mind.
Thanks to Kuesu Jingūji's fusion with the Book of Truth, she processed the information in less than ten seconds. She opened her eyes, her expression calm as she said, "You plan to make a move during that Akihiko Kayaba's operation?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu immediately broke into a smile.
"The world's first virtual game, the first game to expose the risks of misusing virtual technology, a thrilling and interesting game easter egg!
"I think a game like this should be enough to satisfy your requirements!"
Hearing Luo Shu say this, Kuesu Jingūji just raised her head, staring intently into his eyes.
"Whether it satisfies me or not is another matter. I only care if my goal can be achieved."
Luo Shu maintained his smile, his tone reassuring.
"Everything will be as you wish!"
Kuesu Jingūji looked at Luo Shu, then said, "Because of my fusion with the Book of Truth, my brain is constantly undergoing an alienation, and my emotional functions are in a sealed state. Under these circumstances, there's a certain risk to my advancement to Demigod."
Luo Shu looked at Kuesu Jingūji in surprise. It wasn't as if he hadn't helped her with this problem before, but it seemed her condition had worsened.
But speaking of which, why were there so many girls in his Familia with this kind of problem?
Lacus was like this before; Kirika Tachibana was the same; Tabane Shinonono had a similar issue; and now it was Kuesu Jingūji's turn.
And it seemed this group of people were all good friends.
'Could this defect be contagious?'
"What do you want to do?" Luo Shu asked curiously.
Kuesu Jingūji's violet eyes were filled with rationality.
"Like before, help me suppress this state. But it needs to be done more thoroughly."
Hearing this, the corners of Luo Shu's mouth lifted slightly as he said with a smile, "Is that so... Then I imagine you're well aware, Kuesu."
"My fee is very high~"