Chapter 60: The Birth of a New Science 2

He smiled slightly.

"That was my main job in my old world."

Shiora leaned back in her chair.

"So you actually know how to build the necessary instructions?"

"Yes. I know how to design programs, organize information, create algorithms, and connect the different functions."

Elaria asked,

"But do you also know how to build the machine itself?"

"I know the manufacturing principles."

Adam thought for a moment before continuing,

"In my world, producing a modern computer required extremely advanced industries. Extraction and purification of materials. Manufacturing of microscopic components. Precision machines. Electrical networks."

He placed a hand near the crystal.

"But we don’t need to replicate that technology exactly. Magic and runes can replace several steps."

Vespera nodded.

"We can create much smaller circuits by layering runic symbols." "

Elaria added:

"Crystals can store energy states without requiring mechanical parts."

Adam nodded.

"And magic cores can provide stable energy."

Shiora rested her chin on her hand.

"Then the project is feasible."

"Theoretically."

Adam raised a finger.

"But we shouldn’t start with a complete machine right away."

He began to list the steps.

"First, create a cell capable of permanently storing a single state: zero or one."

Elaria noted the first step.

"Second, create several reliable logic gates."

Vespera nodded.

"Third, use these gates to perform a very simple calculation. For example, adding two small numbers."

Shiora asked:

"And then?"

"Build a larger memory." Then a system capable of reading a sequence of instructions in a specific order.

Adam placed several pieces in a line.

"Take an instruction. Execute it. Move on to the next one. Repeat."

Elaria whispered:

"A continuous execution loop."

"Yes."

He continued:

"Then, we’ll need to create input and output devices. A control panel. A display. Perhaps a method for printing or reproducing on paper."

Isadora looked at the administrative documents.

"A machine capable of automatically producing written reports would completely change the way the duchy operates."

"Yes."

Shiora added:

"And a bank could immediately check a customer’s accounts at any branch."

Lyriana interjected:

"Provided the different machines can communicate."

Adam turned to her.

"That’s where the network comes in."

He mentally conjured a map of Valoria onto the table.

"A network connects several computers so they can exchange information."

He placed several coins on the map.

"A machine at the manor." One to the Merchants’ Guild. One to the Adventurers’ Guild. One to the Mage’s Tower."

Then he connected the rooms with imaginary lines.

"They could send messages, consult shared ledgers, or transmit alerts."

Vespera thought for a moment.

"We already have distress crystals and military relays."

"This is our second point of entry."

Adam continued:

"Distress signals already transmit information over a considerable distance. For now, they only send very simple messages: danger, approximate location, or a request for help."

Lyriana nodded.

"But if we understand how the signal travels, we can increase the amount of information carried."

"Exactly."

Vespera conjured several red runes.

"We could assign different sequences to each letter or symbol."

Adam smiled.

"That’s what we called encoding."

Elaria immediately added the term to her notes.

Adam continued:

"The Memory Crystal gives us a clue for storage. The Projection Box gives us a clue for display. Distress signals give us a clue for transmission. Rune circuits can form the logic gates."

He looked at everyone around the table.

"The rest will depend on our ideas, our experimentation, optimization, finding the right materials, and finally, manufacturing."

Shiora smiled.

"You say ’our.’"

Adam observed the women present.

"I could never undertake a project of this scale on my own."

He pointed to Elaria.

"Elaria is skilled in materials, craftsmanship, enchantments, and manufacturing."

Then Vespera.

"Vespera understands runes, magical signals, and energy structures better than anyone."

Shiora.

"Shiora can arrange funding, suppliers, trade protection, and future production."

Isadora.

"Isadora can provide a legal, political, and administrative framework, as well as a secure location for research."

Lyriana.

"Lyriana can protect information, vet researchers, and prevent espionage."

Selene and Elena.

"Selene and Elena can define military uses, test the hardware’s durability, and imagine situations where the system must continue to function despite shocks or attacks."

Selene smiled.

"So I can hit the machine to see if it can withstand it?"

Adam stared at her.

"Only once we’ve built a test version specifically designed for that purpose."

"Perfect."

Elena shook her head in amusement.

Adam continued:

"We also have the network of guilds, skilled artisans, mages, banks, and an entire city capable of progressively testing the initial applications."

A hush fell over the table.

This time, the silence wasn’t caused by surprise.

They were all already thinking about the project.

Vespera was the first to speak.

"We must begin with the elemental memory cell."

Elaria nodded.

"I can prepare several materials: crystal, runic metal, mana glass, and enchanted ceramic. We will compare their stability."

Adam agreed.

"Then we will test the logic gates."

Isadora asked,

"Where will this research take place?"

Lyriana answered before Adam could:

"Not in the guilds. Too many people circulate in their buildings."

Vespera folded her arms.

"The Mage Tower has secure laboratories."

Lyriana shook her head slightly.

"But it naturally attracts the attention of the other mages."

Isadora thought for a few seconds.

"We’ll set up an underground laboratory beneath the manor."

Shiora smiled.

"Hidden behind the plans for the new barrier. Deliveries of materials won’t seem unusual."

Elaria added:

"We’ll separate the teams. No outside craftswomen will work on the entire machine."

Adam nodded.

"Compartmentalized manufacturing."

Lyriana continued:

"The lead researchers will be only those present around this table. The assistants will only have access to the elements necessary for their tasks."

Isadora concluded:

"The project will be classified as a ducal secret."

Adam observed the seven women.

Just a few minutes earlier, he had simply recommended waiting before creating a Stock Exchange.

Now, they had just decided to build the world’s first magical computer.

He slowly ran a hand over his face.

"Once again, a simple conversation has just become a national project."

Elena smiled.

"You should start getting used to it."

"Adaptation will probably take care of that," Selene added.

Adam glanced at her.

She burst out laughing.

Shiora picked up a new sheet of paper.

"We need a name for the project."

Adam thought for a few seconds.

"For now, let’s just call it Runic Calculator."

Vespera repeated slowly:

"Runic Calculator..."

Elaria wrote the title at the top of a new page.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

VALORIA’S SECRET PROJECT

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Working Name:

Runic Calculator

Initial Objectives:

Create a binary memory cell Build runic logic gates Perform a simple calculation Design a programmable memory Create an input system Adapt the Projection Box as a visual output Study the signals distress as a network base Develop an encoding method Create a standalone prototype Secure data and communications

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Adam studied the list.

"It will probably take months, maybe years, before we get something truly efficient."

Vespera replied calmly:

"We waited centuries to discover some of these runes. A few years is nothing."

Elaria looked at Adam.

"But with your knowledge, Eyes of the World, Limiter, and our access to the planes, it could be much faster."

Shiora smiled.

"And each intermediate step can already produce a marketable invention." "

Adam sighed.

"Naturally."

She began to count on her fingers.

"Calculators for banks. Automatic ledgers. Control systems for workshops. Messaging networks between guilds. Administrative filing machines."

Isadora added:

"Military maps updated in real time."

Lyriana continued:

"Secure records of identities and suspicious movements."

Elena said:

"Tactical simulations."

Selene smiled.

"Training programs capable of adapting the difficulty."

Vespera observed the runes floating before her.

"Magic circles capable of automatically correcting their flow."

Elaria concluded:

"Workshops capable of repeating a gesture with constant precision."

Adam listened.

The true danger of a computer wasn’t just its computing power.

It was its ability to penetrate every domain.

Commerce.

Administration.

Magic.

War.

Craftsmanship.

Communication.

Intelligence.

Such a significant invention could strengthen Valoria in unimaginable ways.

But if it fell into the hands of the Holy Empire, it could also become an unprecedented tool of surveillance, propaganda, and domination.

Adam placed both hands on the table.

"There’s one essential rule."

All eyes turned to him.

"We must never consider this technology as solely beneficial."

Isadora looked at him seriously.

Adam continued:

"A computer can help organize a city. But it can also monitor its entire population. A network can allow people to communicate. But it can also allow someone to intercept their messages. A database can protect identities. But it can also provide a tyrant with a list of everyone they want to arrest."

Lyriana nodded slowly.

"Each function will therefore need protection against its own misuse."

"Yes."

Vespera added:

"Original signatures. Encryption of information. Access permissions."

Adam smiled slightly.

"Exactly. We’ll also need to create backups, activity logs, and methods to detect unauthorized modifications." "

Elaria was already writing.

Shiora looked at the growing list.

"This project is getting more and more expensive."

Adam gave her an amused look.

"Do you want to give up?"

The oni seemed deeply offended.

"Certainly not."

She placed her hand, bearing the Ring of Promise, on the table.

"The most expensive projects are often the most profitable."

Isadora looked up at her.

"And the ones that cause the greatest disasters when mismanaged."

Shiora smiled.

"That’s why you’re here."

Isadora couldn’t really argue with her.

Adam looked again at the blueprint for the Runic Calculator.

In his old world, he had spent much of his life in front of a computer.

He had written programs.

Fixed errors.

Created complex systems.

Studyed their construction to better understand the limitations of his work.

He would never have imagined that after his death, he would participate in the creation of the first computer in a magical world.

And yet...

The first components already existed.

The Memory Crystal.

The Projection Box.

The new runes.

The distress signals.

The magic cores.

They didn’t lack a foundation.

They only lacked the method to connect all these discoveries.

A method Adam knew better than almost any other field.

He gently placed a finger on the project title.

"We’ll start tonight by defining the memory cell."

Vespera looked at him.

A slight smile appeared on her lips.

"After our other program for the evening."

Adam froze.

Selene immediately burst out laughing.

Shiora raised her cup.

"Good luck."

Vespera maintained a perfectly calm expression.

But her red eyes shone with an impatience she no longer really tried to hide.

Adam sighed deeply.

The day had barely begun.

And yet, his schedule was already packed with training, research, and technological projects...

And an evening with the last woman still waiting her turn.

One thing was certain.

His second life wasn’t likely to become boring.