Chapter 57: The False Tree

[Isamael: I haven’t had a proper cup of tea in ages. Every drink I’ve had until now feels utterly pointless on a day like this…]

[A picture of tea with two flowers floating on the surface]

[Mauro: Isn’t it just an ordinary tea made by a doll? Why are you making such a fuss?]

[Isamael: It’s different. The taste is on another level.]

[Mauro: So, did they use some kind of special tea leaves?]

[Isamael: Hmm, if you visit the information board, you’ll understand, Mauro.]

[Mauro: I just arrived, so I have no idea. What’s posted there?]

[Isamael: Go and read ‘How to Brew the Perfect Tea’ by Evron. You’ll see.]

***

The knowledge, experiences, and information transmitted through the dolls flowed from the shadow tree’s spinal roots to the brain.

The accumulated information within the tree was endlessly stored.

The stars floating in the shadow tree confirmed these pieces of information and absorbed those they favored.

Through this process, they grew into better beings.

It was an incredibly beautiful structure, one so mesmerizing that it often left me staring in awe.

After completing the creation of the doll, I conducted numerous experiments.

Although the results were perfect, the process had deviated significantly from my expectations.

I needed to understand the origin of the changes.

I couldn’t claim success if I relied on chance.

To call it my achievement, I had to systematize it and turn it into my knowledge.

Through continued research, I finally understood why the doll couldn’t develop a self-awareness.

The shadow tree’s brain was from a dead being.

The traces of its previous life were so vividly present that attempts to cultivate a new consciousness inevitably failed.

Had it been another part, there wouldn’t have been such resistance.

The influence would have been much weaker.

However, the brain had been the shadow tree’s central core for an extended period.

Its remnants were so powerful that the self I tried to instill couldn’t even dare intrude.

‘So this is the power of such a rare material,’ I thought, letting out a bitter laugh when I first realized it.

When creating dolls from ordinary monsters, their weak magic and life force presented no resistance.

I had never anticipated such a variable.

This was my first time handling such a material, so the mishap was inevitable.

All I could do was take this as an experience and be more cautious in the future.

Looking at the sphere before me, I swallowed my regret.

Unlike other shadow dolls, this one lacked self-awareness.

As a result, it couldn’t evolve or do anything beyond absorbing information by connecting stars.

It was truly a pity.

Yet, ironically, this made the doll produce a result even more special than I had anticipated.

***

It happened after I left the thirteenth lecture.

The treasure hunt this time took place in an extraordinary location—a land filled with stars in the sky and stones covering the ground.

There, both magic and the body felt light.

With just a bit of effort, one could leap over five meters into the air.

The treasure Professor had prepared was an old suit of armor.

She claimed it had fallen from outer space.

Its functionality was equally peculiar.

She explained that wearing it allowed one to steal the memories of its previous owner—an extraterrestrial being.

Excited, everyone wandered the place but ultimately failed, myself included.

Leaving the infirmary with a dizzy head, I was greeted by a surprising sight.

The shadow dolls left in the tower were all functioning perfectly.

Typically, the dolls operated naturally thanks to their connection with me and the shadow tree.

Without that link, their immature consciousness alone wouldn’t even allow them to stand upright.

Thus, when I attended lectures or traveled elsewhere, they reverted to ordinary dolls, only capable of carrying out simple commands.

I had expected the same this time.

But surprisingly, the dolls were moving fine.

Although their movements were slightly awkward, they were acting independently.

Startled, I examined them closely and quickly discovered the reason.

The dolls had connected to the brain.

Too precious to take with me, the sphere had been left in the workshop.

In my absence, the dolls had strengthened their connection with the spinal roots extending from the brain, so much so that the flow of energy had penetrated deeply into the brain.

I gently stroked the sphere before me.

“I never imagined something like this would happen.”

Had the doll possessed self-awareness, such an event would have been impossible.

Like other shadow dolls, it would have sought to exist independently.

Ironically, its lack of self-awareness enabled this grand connection.

It partially took on the shadow tree’s role.

I commemorated this by naming it the “False Tree.”

I then guided the other dolls to undergo the same process.

This way, even in my absence, the shadow dolls would continue to function.

Although their performance would be weaker, they would still operate.

***

Because of this connection, I was finally able to add a new feature.

Leaving the sphere, I approached the table where Unit 0 had prepared a teapot in advance.

After a deep breath, I cleared my mind, calming myself completely.

Now prepared, I began.

A mirror worm, infused with my magic, floated into the air.

Instead of projecting a display of the information board, it acted solely as a mirror, reflecting my image.

Seeing my magic seep into it, I bowed my head deeply.

“Greetings. I am Evron, in charge of managing the tower. Today, I will explain the magic of ‘perfect tea.'”

I cast a simple spell using the teapot.

Pouring the tea into the cup, several flower petals bloomed in the liquid.

Lifting the cup, I inhaled the aroma.

A clean, fragrant tea scent lightly touched my nose.

“This is the ‘Perfect Tea’ magic used by the dolls. It’s also a magic I’ve posted on the information board.

The tea you drink daily is created using this simple magic. However,” I poured the tea into the air.

“The liquid oxidized within the magic and disappeared. Watching it dissipate,” I spoke slowly.

“This alone cannot be called perfect tea. Simply using magic cannot produce a truly refined cup. Now, I will show you how to make real ‘Perfect Tea.'”

About thirty minutes later, I successfully completed the demonstration of the ‘Perfect Tea.’

It was time to verify if everything had worked as intended.

I summoned the mirror worm, which floated before me and began to reflect my image.

But the image it showed was not my current self.

The person in the mirror greeted me and began preparing tea.

Every action I had just performed was captured within it.

Satisfaction swelled in my chest.

Finally, success.

This feature was inspired by the professor, who once used a mirror to observe the tower.

Her mirror vividly reflected everything—the expressions of people, the flow of magic, and even the atmosphere of the surroundings.

It was filled with details that couldn’t be conveyed through words or pictures alone.

No matter how eloquent the text or how numerous the illustrations, they couldn’t surpass the information and experience packed into a 10-second video.

I had always wanted to store such videos in the shadow tree.

I was sure they would enrich the consciousnesses I had created.

But until now, I hadn’t even dreamed of adding such a feature.

The main issue was storage space.

‘Even storing text or images strained the system—how could I add something that required even more capacity?’

The shadow tree’s brain resolved that problem.

It provided ample storage space for videos.

With the newfound storage, I recorded a video as a test to see if it could be properly displayed on the information board.

The result was far from my expectations.

The video stuttered continuously and appeared distorted.

The information it contained was sparse and unimpressive, the weak connections between the stars being the main cause.

I was on the verge of giving up when, after the last lecture, I discovered how to build a stronger connection.

Now, the videos played normally, just like this one.

I uploaded the video to the information board.

It was a lecture on how to use the ‘Perfect Tea’ magic.

Along with it, I wrote a notice.

[Evron]: From now on, a video upload feature has been added. You can record videos using the mirror worm, so please enjoy using this feature.

As an example, I’ve uploaded a simple video to the information board. Feel free to check it out.

[Nezun: Oh, this sounds like a fun feature.]

[Isamael: The way you pour tea is really impressive!]

The response was quite enthusiastic.

Soon, many videos began to appear on the board.

[Cassian: Isn’t my bear doll adorable? Day 127.]

[A video of a bear doll rolling around]

[A video of the bear doll tearing through the air with its claws]

‘Isn’t it so cute?’

[Hao: Why do I feel like I’d lose in a fight against it?]

[Neruka: You probably would. I heard over 10,000 points were put into that bear doll.]

[Hao: Are you serious? That’s insane.]

[Hao: Oh, I meant insanely cute.]

[Goro: Took down another monster today. It was a tough opponent.]

[A video of a muscular man fighting a snake]

I’ve cleared the path in this area, so you can all proceed safely.

[Omon: Wow, impressive, old man.]

[Goro: Haha, is that so?]

[Omon: Still, not as strong as me.]

[Goro: Have you forgotten your last defeat? Meet me in the second-floor central hall.]

[Omon: What? I won last time! Who was the one whining with a broken sword?]

***

A month passed.

The videos on the board began to enrich the shadow tree, filling it with vivid and multi-dimensional information.

Watching the growing spectacle, I rubbed my face slowly.

The world created by the shadow tree was nearing perfection.

It would continue to expand, and someday the stars within it would achieve their ultimate form.

Inside me, the tree swelled with life, absorbing magic from the shadow tree and growing in strength.

Previously, I hadn’t dared to attempt this for fear of harming the shadow tree.

But now, everything was on track.

There was nothing left but to move forward toward completion.

As the tree within me grew, my magic also felt stronger.

At that moment, the space before me suddenly tore open, and a piece of paper fluttered down.

The event happened in the blink of an eye.

I picked up the paper slowly, wondering if the professor had sent it.

As I read its contents, I realized it wasn’t from her.

What it held exceeded my imagination.

“This is…”

My eyes widened.

They said it took an average of five years to ascend from the first floor to the second floor.

Since entering the academy, I had never thought of myself as extraordinary.

The second floor had always been a distant dream.

Promotion felt impossibly far away.

But the contents of the paper told me otherwise.

My heart began to pound.

[Promotion Examination Notice]

The letter instructed me to visit the city for a promotion examination next month.

[It had been four years since I entered the academy.]