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A.I

A.I is short for Artificial Intelligence, which literally translates to 인공지능. It refers to artificially created intelligence. According to Elteman’s introduction, it’s referred to as an Artificial Elemental, A.E, but essentially, both concepts are the same, so there’s no difference between the two.

If I had to point out a difference, it might be that one is created by magic and the other by science? As someone who has lived in a more advanced scientific era, I’m more accustomed to calling it A.I. But really, a name is just a name.

The important thing is that there exists a complete form of artificial intelligence in this world.

Once a core element that shook the early 21st century, artificial intelligence became an indispensable component of modern life by the mid-century. So, for me, the existence of artificial intelligence is a familiar technology, yet I couldn’t help but be amazed by the A.I that Elteman showed me.

Starting from Living Armor, it felt like an invention that suddenly jumped several centuries ahead.

From what I can see of life in this era, science isn’t particularly advanced here. So, when a technology that can be called advanced science suddenly pops up, it’s only natural to be surprised. Thinking back, could this be possible because this place has existed with the mysterious study of magic and gods since the beginning of time?

‘Well, in that sense, it’s not even appropriate to call it science and technology.’

In my previous life, artificial intelligence was undeniably a product of science, but here, it’s the opposite. The name itself is an Artificial Elemental after all.

If the previous world saw the advancement of science while magic made little headway, then here it’s the other way around—magic has advanced while science remains underdeveloped. Even if the scale is the same, it’s not like there’s a game where the next tech opens up.

The excessively advanced science cannot be distinguished from magic; isn’t this the very definition of 万流归宗?

Elteman’s explanation of the Artificial Elemental didn’t just stop at presenting its existence. He placed the sulking Artificial Elemental back on the pedestal and began issuing commands.

“Jack. Pause the calculations you’re doing for a moment and move over to the net.”

[Yes~]

Jack, the Artificial Elemental, answered in a lazy voice. It sounded less mechanical and more human-like than the first time it spoke. However, what caught my attention was a single word spoken by Elteman.

Net.

A net… could he possibly be talking about a network?

It’s impossible for a spiritual entity like an Artificial Elemental to move physically, so naturally, what Elteman referred to as “net” must mean a virtual space. Why didn’t I think of that? If there’s artificial intelligence, there must also be a space where it can exist.

As soon as Elteman’s command was issued, the flow of magical power within the research lab changed ever so slightly. Given that it was a wizard’s lab filled with all sorts of equipment, I hadn’t paid much attention, but now that the concept of a network came to mind, my senses started to recognize it.

The gathered magical energy showed no signs of leaving the vicinity of the research lab. That small area was likely the scope of the communication network Elteman constructed, but just the fact that it existed was enough to astonish me.

Oh my god. What on earth has this man been creating alone in this tiny research lab?

As Elteman reached out, a glove he had previously tossed onto a pile of junk returned to his hand.

Just a moment ago, Elteman called that a failed project, but after awakening the Artificial Elemental, his face radiated confidence unlike before. He spoke to me with a beaming expression.

“Little brother, swing your fist at me. With all your strength. It’s fine to use aura too.”

“What?”

“Hurry, there’s no need to worry. I’ll show you something truly fun.”

Elteman replied confidently. Still, I hesitated to throw a punch.

The glove he wore now felt different compared to when he first showed it to me. I had an inkling of what he believed, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t anxious.

I knew he was an incredible magician, but I was no ordinary student from the Department of Knights either. If I purposely held back, I felt like Elteman would catch on.

Ultimately, I reached a compromise with my inner self and decided to channel my strength to the level I had when sparring with Reinhardt and Noel. I clenched my fist and infused it with aura as Elteman requested. As I finally decided to use my aura, Elteman smiled.

“Alright! Come at me!!”

“Okay… here I go?”

I extended my fist directly at Elteman’s face.

Of course, I hadn’t announced my intention to strike, so Elteman wouldn’t have known. My punch moved straight without any variation, but even a straightforward path becomes hard to read when executed at high speed, making it much more likely to land than for him to identify and react to the impact point.

A fist moving so fast it was hard to even see!

With a sound that traveled faster than the cutting of air, my strike flew towards Elteman.

If he didn’t react quickly, whether he was a genius magician or not, my fist would pierce right through his head. However, Elteman’s eyes were still fixed on me, not my punch. It seemed he was unaware that I had thrown a punch, and just then, something blocked my fist.

Thud-!

“Ugh-! Wha-what was that?”

A clear metallic sound echoed in the lab, accompanied by a small groan of confusion.

The groan belonged to Elteman, who had just blocked my fist.

His hand, or rather the glove he was wearing, stopped my punch. Yet, it didn’t completely absorb the shock, and Elteman was visibly pained, though considering he faced the direct hit of a properly delivered punch, there still remained a semblance of his hand’s shape.

Thinking that this act was performed while wearing iron gloves, I felt lucky he was alive at all.

“Oh.”

I couldn’t help but admire Elteman, or more accurately, the glove he was wearing that had blocked my punch.

Clearly, Elteman hadn’t detected my attack, but the glove he wore responded and moved to block my fist. I suspected this was the assistance of the Artificial Elemental he mentioned earlier.

The glove remained mostly intact, save for a slight bending of the iron plate on the palm that had blocked my punch. It seemed to be functioning as it was designed during the era when it was imbued with spirit remnants. Just as Elteman said, the Artificial Elemental had replaced the need for spirit remnants.

“Oh. This can block a punch. Then, this time….”

“St-stop! I think that’s enough of a demonstration, right? Right?”

As I raised my fist again, Elteman quickly interrupted me. By still holding onto the glove, it seemed the pain hadn’t completely subsided.

Tsk, what a disappointment. I was truly trying to go all out this time.

“Ouch… surely the protective magic activated correctly, what’s going on…”

Elteman tossed off the glove, cradling his swollen hand as he grumbled. When he realized I was looking at him, he awkwardly smiled. There was nothing to say; after all, he had wanted me to throw a punch.

“Jack, put an ice pack on my hand.”

[Yes.]

It seemed Jack’s voice came from the glove now detached from Elteman. Following Elteman’s command, a golem, which had been quietly situated in a corner of the research lab, suddenly began to move and created an ice pack to place on his hand.

His adept handling of artificial intelligence was a sight so familiar to me. It wasn’t surprising, but it did draw my attention back to a past I had nearly forgotten. Elteman mistook my gaze as awe at the coolness of the A.I.

“It looks like you can control the golem autonomously.”

“Of course! The very reason I created the Artificial Elemental was all for that!!”

It was a reflexive remark at the sight of the golem moving independently, but Elteman’s reaction was extraordinary. It felt like this was showcasing the pinnacle of everything he’d said so far. Perhaps having forgotten the pain in his hand, he maneuvered the Artificial Elemental to conjure an opaque spear in the air.

In that space, various data regarding human-shaped golems were written, but honestly, since I wasn’t a magician, it was tough for me to fully grasp the information inscribed there. However, the illustrations there helped provide a visual understanding of what Elteman was talking about.

“You may not know, but controlling a golem isn’t simply about crafting a precise spell. One must hypothetically assume several cases and input the expected results beforehand, which is only relevant for golems used in repetitive tasks. Fine and precise maneuvers require the mage to operate them directly, especially with human-shaped golems.”

“Compared to generic magical tools, it seems golems are quite complex? After all, I suppose it makes sense for a device that can accurately replicate human movements.”

“Since you handle your body like a knight, you understand very well how intricate our bodies are. Even just walking on two legs requires an abundance of care. It’s not enough to make a golem’s body out of mithril; you must capture all interactions that occur within a human body in spells.”

“But if there’s an Artificial Elemental, then it changes the situation. It can think for itself.”

“Of course, it’s inevitable to inscribe spells onto the golem’s body for supporting purposes, but with an Artificial Elemental, the required data allowances significantly diminish. Since it can perform calculations and think on my behalf. The good thing about a spiritual entity is that it doesn’t have physical limits. Although the Artificial Elemental has some constraints, in terms of calculation power, it’s at a level comparable to high-ranking mages. In essence, it’s like using the brainpower of one high magician solely for the golem’s operations.”

If a knight surpasses physical limitations with mana, then a magician transcends the limits of intellect with mana. Thus, their cognitive abilities are incomparable to those of ordinary people. If one were to compare, it should be at least to the level of ultra-high-tech artificial intelligence.

“Without this level of capability, one wouldn’t be able to control that thing…”

Elteman mumbled in a small voice. However, my keen hearing caught every word.

Elteman had stated that the reason for creating the Artificial Elemental was because of the golem, and upon hearing this, I could identify the reason from the visual materials Elteman was presenting to me. Perhaps he had shown me this intentionally, but the sole blueprint of the golem he was revealing was the very reason he had created the Artificial Elemental.

After seeing that blueprint, even I, now familiar with advanced technology, couldn’t help but be astonished by the dimensions written there, which were far beyond my imagination. Not only were there dimensions listed, but also the exact test values for those sizes nearby, confirming that this was undoubtedly a design intended for actual construction.

He was trying to create a giant robot. No, he is!

For anyone with even a bit of knowledge in physics, knowing how complex it is to operate a massive robot is common sense. The larger the body of the robot, the greater the load and reaction force it must withstand, requiring materials that can handle such stress and devices that can control all its movements, none of which is easily resolved.

Of course, in my previous life, this could be solved with the development of a special alloy using nanotechnology.

But in this world of swords and magic, such advanced technologies didn’t exist, and for Elteman, magic was his only pathway. Now it all makes sense. Thus, Elteman had created an Artificial Elemental to surpass material limitations, allowing high cognitive processing to control all movements of the golem.

While in my previous life, there was sufficient technology to build a giant robot, it ultimately never materialized. The reason being that a giant robot had no practical value. All that was needed was a powerful superhuman to slay monsters; there was no need for a creature that would only gobble up the budget.

That wasn’t an unreasonable statement, but if one were to ask if I wouldn’t have regretted it then, it would be a lie.

In the end, I had to give up for the greater good, but that’s more of a man’s problem.

Turning my head to look at Elteman, he was smiling silently. It felt somehow as if he were saying, ‘Why don’t you join me in building this?’ Was that just my imagination?

“Big brother, are you perhaps short on research funds or something?”

 

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