Technically, the Herrscher of Reason cannot create a functional replica of the Key of the Void. While the Herrscher of Reason can replicate complex structures, the creation of a Divine Key requires the Core of the Herrscher of Death—which embodies concepts of biological creation and disintegration that the Herrscher of Reason does not possess.
However, my [Construction] technique can overcome those limitations.
The [Construction] technique functions more like [Imaginary Creation].
It can create anything the user imagines.
Nevertheless, the more powerful the object one wishes to construct, the greater the amount of Cursed Energy consumed in its creation.
But right now, I have nothing left to do but analyze the Herrscher Core to better understand its composition.
So, I will observe what Miko is doing out there.
Outside of Rin and Miko's shared consciousness space...
Miko can be seen waiting at Shibuya Station.
"Hana is taking quite a while."
Miko remarks, looking around and checking the plaza's clock with a slightly worried expression.
"Could she have been delayed?"
"I don't think she was delayed; it's just that *you* arrived too early."
A voice resonates within Miko's mind.
"Huh? You think so, Rin?"
Miko asks, her voice tinged with confusion.
"I know I arrived thirty minutes early, but forty minutes have passed already!"
Miko says with growing concern.
After all, the Japanese have the admirable custom of always arriving punctually for their appointments and engagements.
Although this version of Japan is much more relaxed—lacking many of the strict restrictions on manners and public conduct found in the real-world Japan—
Certain concepts still persist in this Japan.
Such as arriving on time for scheduled meetings.
"Hana is pretty laid-back; she probably got distracted buying something to eat."
Rin replies nonchalantly. As if to confirm Rin's words...
Hana appeared, carrying a bag of melon bread... and with a melon bun already in her mouth.
"Hey there, Miko~"
"Sorry I'm late, but I got really hungry on the way here~"
"I just *had* to buy something tasty to snack on," Yurikawa Hana said cheerfully.
"I see," Miko replied, glancing at the half-empty shopping bag in Hana's hands.
"I thought something terrible had happened to you."
"But it looks like I worried for nothing."
Miko said, sighing in relief.
"Hehe~ Sorry for making you worry, Miko~" Hana laughed, sounding apologetic.
"But for some reason—for about the last six months—I've suddenly been feeling incredibly hungry..."
"Do you think I'm going to gain too much weight?" Hana asked, sounding worried.
"It's perfectly normal for you to be that hungry," Miko whispered.
She fixed her gaze behind Hana, where a malevolent spirit was siphoning off the excess life force that Hana constantly radiated.
With a single blast of cursed energy, Miko annihilated the malevolent spirit.
The spirit didn't even have time to scream before turning to ash.
*Even though Rin told me not to kill them indiscriminately, I* can *still kill the ones that are truly annoying and persistent.*
Miko thought calmly.
Her fear of malevolent spirits was no longer as intense as it used to be.
After all, when you possess the power to obliterate most cursed spirits with nothing more than a concentrated pulse of cursed energy, that fear inevitably fades away.
"I suddenly feel so much lighter~"
"I wonder why?" Hana mused, maintaining her usual cheerful tone.
"It doesn't matter; this way, we can enjoy our shopping with even more freedom."
Hana's tone remains as lively as ever.
With overflowing joy and energy, Hana grabs Miko by the arm and drags her along.
"Come on, Miko! We have to hurry! The day is short, and we have so many things to buy!"
Hana's cheerful, lively voice brightens the atmosphere.
It also helps to alleviate Miko's tension a little.
Constantly seeing evil spirits subjects her to perpetual stress.
Thirty minutes later...
Inside a small bookstore.
"Look, Miko! This is my favorite manga," says Hana, holding up the volume she has in her hands.
"It looks interesting. What is it about?" asks Miko, glancing at the manga's cover.
"It's about the school life of a high school student who witnesses a love triangle unfolding right before his very eyes—just like in a manga."
"And how, little by little—without even realizing it—he ends up creating his *own* love triangle, with two girls fighting over him."
"But the most exciting part is that he never realizes that the very thing he complains about happening to other people is actually happening to *him*—without him having a clue!"
"It's the most exciting thing I can read before bed!" Hana exclaims enthusiastically.
"That sounds like a very interesting story."
"How many volumes are there? I want to buy the first three," Miko asks Hana.
"There are six volumes in total, but I think this bookstore is sold out of the earlier ones," Hana replies.
"We'd better ask the person in charge of the store," Hana suggests.
"Alright," Miko responds.
The two of them approach the employee standing at the counter near the exit.
"Excuse me, do you happen to have the earlier volumes of this manga?" Hana asks. The employee—a young man of about seventeen or eighteen with the vacant stare of a fish—glances at the book and replies in a monotone voice, devoid of any enthusiasm:
"Unfortunately, we no longer have the previous volumes of that manga in stock. In fact, for the past three weeks, only the most recent volumes of all the new manga titles have been available for sale."
"Huh? Why?" asks Hana dejectedly.
The bookstore employee replies without much emotion:
"My boss is having financial trouble and wants to declare bankruptcy to collect the insurance money."
"What is insurance?" asks Hana curiously.
"It's something that gives you money if you declare bankruptcy."
"But I don't expect a little girl like you to understand," the employee says indifferently.
"Thank you very much for your time," says Miko, pulling Hana away before she could continue questioning the employee.
"It's my job," the employee calls out in a weary voice from a distance.
"Wait, Miko! I still have things to ask him!" Hana complains, pouting in disappointment.
"You said it yourself: the day is short. We shouldn't get distracted by unnecessary things," says Miko.
Four hours later...
Miko and Hana were walking along the bustling streets, carrying two shopping bags in each hand.
"Hana, thank you so much for inviting me to go shopping."
"You're welcome! It was nothing—hehe," says Hana in a cheerful voice.
"Miko, do you want to come over to my house? I have a bunch of desserts in the fridge," asks Hana.
"Maybe next time. My mom told me I have to be back early; I'm sorry," says Miko in a serious tone.
The new friend she had made over the past few days was very nice, and she really liked her.
It was a shame she couldn't spend more time with her.
"Really? That's too bad." The disappointment in Hana's words is evident.
"We aren't old enough to look after ourselves just yet," says Miko.
Hana nods.
"Let's head to the bus station so we can get home," says Miko.
It is quite curious; Miko and Hana's houses aren't very far apart.
It's barely a thirty-minute walk at a leisurely pace. As they walk toward the bus stop, the screech of tires braking abruptly causes every muscle in Miko's body to tense up instinctively.
Miko looks around and sees a truck that has just struck a black-haired boy—who appears to be about fourteen years old—after he pushed a girl, roughly fifteen, out of the way.
"Brother!" screams the girl who had been shoved clear of the truck; she leaps to her feet and rushes toward the injured boy.
Miko drops the bags she was carrying and vaults over the guardrail onto the road to help the injured boy.
"Wait, Miko!" Hana exclaims in disbelief. Moving with rapid strides, Miko reaches the injured boy's side and sees that the girl from before is already administering first aid.
As she draws closer, Miko hears her speak.
"Don't you dare die on me, you stupid brother."
Upon hearing the girl's words, Miko feels that this situation is eerily similar to one she experienced two years ago.
"Rin, do you think you can save him?" Miko asks hopefully.
"Of course I can. Besides, the impact wasn't that severe; he only has a few broken bones," I reply calmly.
Without a second thought, Miko removes her glasses; the oath takes effect, and I take control of her body.
Without a moment's hesitation, I kneel beside the boy lying on the ground and take his hand.
"Hang in there—everything is going to be fine. An ambulance has already been called. Stay strong and hold on," I tell him, so as not to arouse suspicion.
But secretly, I employ my Cursed Technique—[Dormant Transfiguration]—to assess the boy's injuries.
"You only have three broken ribs and a concussion."
"No internal organs are damaged."
Without hesitation, I activate my Cursed Technique and heal him—just enough so that it wouldn't look suspicious.
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This chapter is published thanks to my dear reader Gamers2_CH, who supported me, encouraged me, and reached out to me in the comments.
Although I promised Gamers2_CH that I would upload four chapters, unfortunately, I was only able to upload these two.
Please thank Gamers2_CH.