Mythos Of Narcissus: Reborn As An NPC In A Horror VRMMO

"Why did you name it 'Organic Calculator', though?" Verina asked like it was the most normal thing to do.

"I call it an 'Organic Calculator' because it mimics organic processes when it comes to thoughts and calculating without relying on any magical intervention."

Verina crossed her arms, finally looking intrigued. "That does sound useful, and less destructive," she admitted, though a hint of wariness remained. "Just so long as this thing doesn't start deciding to turn on us."

Yeah, there was that too.

Though, I had the base counter-measure for the danger that came with semi-sentient devices capable of thoughts and learning noted down on these documents.

"That's why we'll implement controls," I assured her. "There will be limitations, fail-safes. I'm thinking of it as an assistant for our survival, not a full replacement for the bastioneers."

I could see them gradually warming to the idea, and as they examined the documents further, I began to feel that same surge of anticipation that had driven me through the last two hours in the Thinking Room.

There were some small discussion and explaining sessions for our 'head of consul' Lupina about the Cognitive Engine, but we won't delve much into that part of the technological schematic since we need to actualize the Organic Calculator first and foremost.

"Well then," I said, preparing all of the tools needed for the exotic craft. "Shall we get started?"

With that, we began the delicate process of putting theory into practice, combining the organic materials I'd salvaged from Calamity Objects, along with some of Kuzunoha's sorcery to help the components bind. Verina adjusted the precision of the mechanical parts, and Lupina, though unable to contribute physically, provided more encouragement than any of us cared to admit.

Despite the schematic only mentioning the kind of traits and criteria for what could be the material of each piece, we surprisingly didn't have much trouble with Kuzunoha' immaculate understanding of biology and her practice of arcane sorcery to make these exemplary materials out of the current one a reality.

She was also quick to understand the concept of Calamity Alloys, making our discussion regarding the material and its modification to be smoother than expected.

And after that materials for each part were made, we only needed to follow the ratio and calculation that I concocted, and maybe tinker and adapt to an unexpected behavior resulting from the still testing-phase of our technological understanding of my intended design.

The thing to tackle on, the Foundation of Organic Circuitry.

Which is the conversion of Modified Calamity Alloys as Conductive Networks.

The basis of the Organic Calculator would be its neural pathways, where information could flow like signals in a living brain. These conductive networks needed flexibility, conductivity, and a capacity to retain imprinted 'memories' of prior signals.

And by using a certain material of the Calamity Object as the primary core of our new synthetic substance, we could easily determine the expected traits and properties of the newly created material.

These were the parts we came up with for the Conductive Networks.

Modified Ink-Born Alloy: We chose alloyed ink derived from The Ink-Born Muse, a dark, viscous substance capable of encoding information through its unique ability to "stain" impressions upon repeated input.

When mixed with a conductive medium made from Bloodhound claws—a material that provided a stabilizing iron-like structure—the resulting material, 'Memory Ink Alloy', could act as both a conductor and a rudimentary storage layer.

Find your next read on empire

When a current passed through, the ink retained subtle traces of that path, allowing it to 'remember' patterns over time.

Shifting Fibers: For additional connectivity, we used fibers soaked in Lichen Queen moss, which grew and twisted under faint electrical impulses, helping to mimic the pliability of organic tissue. These fibers served as 'bridges' between sections, enabling pathways to adaptively link, mimicking synaptic connections that could strengthen over time.

"I have no idea what I'm witnessing," Lupina commented, "But the process looks cool."

After that, it was time to make the Assembly of the 'Synaptic Junctions' with 'Adaptive Memristors'.

Don't mind the scientific jargons if it's too hard to understand~

We proceeded to focus on creating the synaptic junctions—nodes where signals would be processed, stored, or redirected. This required materials that could adaptively alter resistance based on repeated current, allowing the Organic Calculator to 'learn' through usage, much like a neural network.

These were the parts we managed to create.

Candle Knight Wax Memristors: To achieve variable resistance, we combined a modified wax from The Candle Knight with trace amounts of conductive dust from Shardfiends. The wax itself acted as a non-linear resistor, one that hardened after prolonged exposure to a particular current, creating a 'memory'.

The added Shardfiend dust enhanced conductivity and ensured that the wax could retain its shape. Under stress from repeated currents, these Wax Memristors would begin to solidify pathways, creating lasting 'memories' in areas that frequently fired.

Blood-Bonded Gel Layer: A thin layer of Blood-Bonded Gel—a viscous, electrolyte solution created from diluted marrow harvested from the Skybound Marrow—was applied to each junction.

This gel allowed the synapses to temporarily amplify or dampen currents. It was key for short-term memory effects, allowing certain pathways to 'resonate' temporarily and fade if not reinforced by repeated signals.

"Electro-light? What's that? Sounds tasty," Lupina commented.

Next was the Integration of the Processing Core: Organic Logic Center.

The central processing unit, or Organic Logic Center, required the strongest and most stable materials due to its role in coordinating all signal flows. It needed a stable structure, one resistant to degradation, yet responsive to stimuli for adaptive processing.

As such, these were what we ended up making. Not exactly close to the schematic we're making, but still close nonetheless.

Calamity Core Alloy: The heart of the Organic Calculator was formed from a stable Calamity Alloy combining the rigid Sandstalker claws with fragments of the Fallow Man's mask, creating an iron-hard material with an innate tendency to dampen and stabilize energy surges.

This Calamity Core Alloy ensured that signals processed within the core would neither dissipate too quickly nor overwhelm surrounding pathways.

Protective Binding with Moss-Lichen Coating: To provide resilience and prevent the core from becoming overwhelmed by rogue signals, we encased it in a thin layer of Lichen Queen moss. This coating absorbed excess energy and acted as a failsafe, dissipating it through organic layers to prevent any runaway feedback loops that could destabilize the entire device.

"We ended up using the Lichen Queen's moss a lot," Lupina commented. "I hope we don't run out of them anytime soon."

"Don't worry, we still have plenty of them," I playfully assured.

"Well, the thing that we're making is not exactly the biggest thing in this workshop, after all," Verina added.

After that, it was the creation of the Assembly Process and Calibration of Pathways.