"No, did you already complete it?"
Upon hearing Roswin's words, Harriet calmly nodded.
"Ah... Yes."
"Your Highness, this is not a matter to be discussed so simply. You have changed the history of the Warp Gates, and through that, the history of the continent itself."
"Ah... Is that so?"
Although Roswin made a fuss, Harriet didn't seem particularly moved.
"Your Highness, you have solved a conundrum that countless Warp Gate theorists had given up on. You can be more, much more, excited about it!"
Roswin's voice echoed through the quiet reading room. It was a reaction of such intensity that it felt slightly incongruous compared to his usual calm demeanor, but Harriet didn't feel it was that remarkable.
It was never an easy problem, but she had managed to solve it during her intermittent research. That was all there was to it.
"Your Highness, you do understand what you've accomplished, don't you?"
"Yes? Ah... If the imaginary dimension map is re-established, we will no longer have to pass through Warp Gates multiple times to reach our destination, but rather, travel directly from a small gate at the northernmost point of the continent to a small gate at the southernmost point... Isn't that the case?"
"You know this, so why aren't you more surprised?"
"..."
Harriet opened her mouth to say something but then closed it.
She had almost said that it wasn't her brilliance, but rather the previous Warp Gate system had been too foolishly operated. However, that would be disrespectful to all the magicians who had built the system throughout history, so she couldn't bring herself to say it.
And for the same reason, she couldn't ask why it hadn't been done until now.
As with most technological advancements, Harriet had found inspiration from inconvenience.
The Warp Gate system provided immense convenience, but ultimately, it had its drawbacks.
If one thinks of small Warp Gates as having a range of 1, medium Warp Gates as 2, large Warp Gates as 3, and extra-large as 4, it's easier to understand.
Since Warp Gates connect to all other Warp Gates within their range, extra-large Warp Gates naturally connect to a significant number of other gates.
That's why the extra-large Warp Gates had been built at the ends of their respective ranges, connecting the entire continent.
However, this method had a chronic problem: to travel long distances, one had to pass through multiple gates. As not all places on the continent were connected by the overlapping ranges of extra-large Warp Gates, it was necessary to pass through a series of medium and small gates.
To travel from the Imperial capital to a remote village at the southernmost edge of Kernstadt, one had to go through the following sequence: Imperial Capital's extra-large Warp Gate → Kernstadt's extra-large Warp Gate → regional large Warp Gate → another medium Warp Gate at a waypoint → and finally, the destination's small Warp Gate.
In this way, they had to move. It was an extreme case, but it wasn't as if such instances didn't exist.
As a result, inevitably, large warp gates where people flocked were prone to congestion, just as it was happening now, and the main large warp gates also had waiting lines.
The royal crest that Reinhardt and Ellen possessed served as a warp gate fast pass, saving them a significant amount of time, thanks to the structure of passing through the warp gate system's waypoints.
However, Harriet found herself up against a fundamental question she couldn't understand: why did they need to disembark at an intermediate point and re-enter the warp gate system, which was interconnected like a spider web?
Couldn't they just use the connected dimensional gateways directly and go straight to their destination without having to transfer at warp gate waypoints?
Harriet pointed out why they didn't operate the warp gate this way, and Roswin's answer was simple:
Because it had always been done that way.
Of course, this implied countless problems that were difficult to express with just those words.
Warp gates hadn't suddenly fallen from the sky to connect the entire continent; they had gradually taken their current form through a series of trial runs, slowly being completed one at a time. In other words, the basic system was created without the intention of connecting the entire continent, but it ended up doing so anyway.
The map of the imaginary dimension used for direct connections in the warp gate system had also been slowly completed over time. As a result, the complex structure was a system built by numerous mages over hundreds of years.
As many people participated in the system, problems were bound to arise inevitably.
Comparing it to road construction, some built straight routes, others curved ones, yet others elliptical, and still others spiral-shaped. Each person had built it their way.
Each mage had drawn the map their way, and as it continued to be used, it became impossible to change, and any attempt to tamper with it could potentially destroy the entire warp gate system.
Maintenance after maintenance, the imaginary dimension map and the warp gate's base system were now akin to a colossal pile of excrement. They could maintain the system, but it was impossible to improve it, and they were left with no choice but to continue using it in its current form and manner.
Many warp gate technicians didn't fail to come up with Harriet's idea for improvement; they simply couldn't do it. They would have to comprehend the entire structure of the imaginary dimension accumulated over a hundred years, redraw the warp gate's imaginary dimension map that connected the entire continent from scratch, and completely overhaul the warp gate's basic operation—an insane task.
And yet, Harriet had done it.
Even while she was sobbing alone, shocked by the news of Reinhardt's engagement, complaining about her lack of focus and how difficult it was.
In simple terms.
Harriet had transformed the tiny, almost junk-like warp gate of the provincial neighborhood into one that functioned like the massive warp gates in front of the Temples, the Holy Knight Orders, or the Imperial Palace.
No, even more than that.
While large warp gates have a limited range, by applying the imaginary dimensional map that Harriet had conceived, one could travel directly to any warp gate within the joint range where the warp gate system was established.
In other words, although one couldn't reach Edina Archipelago, where a separate small-scale warp gate system was built, they could travel anywhere on the continent.
"You could be happier about this, Your Highness!"
"Well, if you say so…"
It was said that sadness could fuel growth.
This magic genius had changed history while sobbing in her room and scribbling in her notebook because things weren't going well with her crush.
In conclusion, the warp gate operation problems that had existed until now would be solved in a snap with the proper use of Harriet's new warp gate-based system and the imaginary dimensional map. Of course, it couldn't be applied immediately, and its stability had to be verified through experts' hands by going through trials, verifications, and test runs.
Harriet had already achieved a feat that no other archmage had accomplished before.
She knew this was a significant research achievement, but since it wasn't that difficult for her, she didn't understand Roswin's excited state.
Thus, a natural conclusion.
'I really am a genius…'
Harriet realized it anew.
"If only I had known Your Highness sooner, it would have been so much fun."
"?"
Roswin's words still gave off a strange feeling of incongruity to Harriet.
This person, today, seemed different from usual.
Harriet felt the odd incongruity but didn't yet know its identity.
"Seeing the Five Stars you possess makes me feel so inadequate. Now, the next research material is here."
Roser changed the subject when he saw Harriet's confusion.
"Ah, yes... Thank you."
"No, it's always enjoyable just watching a genius at work."
Genius.
It was a word she had heard over and over, and while she admitted it herself, Harriet wondered what it truly meant.
The title of being the greatest genius in the history of magic was merely a term to glorify her, wasn't it? Harriet still knew that she lacked a lot, and she knew about her classmates and seniors who were far ahead of her in different fields.
She couldn't be humanity's hope. She couldn't even stand alongside them.
Developing an innovative way to use the warp gate had nothing to do with power.
The sense of inferiority felt by a genius.
What could she do with this level of research?
She needed something to focus her mind on, but there was nothing Harriet wanted to gain through this research.
In the end, she had presented an improved warp gate system, but that wasn't her real goal.
Discovering a way to create a dimensional gate that leads to another world didn't mean Reinhardt would pay any attention to her.
Would anything really change if she created one?
Just like the last time, he might try to hide it if he deemed it too dangerous a magic.
The head of the magic department looked at Harriet with a pleased expression.
While he considered himself a genius, the person before him could not be anything less than a genius as well. After all, it was impossible for someone who managed the Royal Magic Department's research library at such a young age not to be a genius.
In the public's perception, magicians were geniuses, and among magicians, a young one serving as the head of the magic department was surely a genius among geniuses. For her to receive such praise was indeed a remarkable feat.
However, that didn't grant Harriet any real benefits.
"Excuse me for asking such a question, but may I ask something?"
"Huh? Oh… Yes."
"Although Your Highness is not a warp gate technician, why are you studying the warp gate system?"
It was indeed a valid question.
Although it was true that warp gate-related magicians were made up of high-ranking ones, in the end, it was too practical a magic for the Grand Duchess of the Saint Owan Duchy to study.
Harriet tried to recall why she had started this research.
A dimensional gate leading to another world, dimensional magic, and if it's dimensional magic, then warp gates.
It was a simple cause and effect. It's just that it wasn't due to her own curiosity.
How would the other person react if she said she wanted to know the way to another world?
Although she thought it would be laughed at, Harriet couldn't help but burst into laughter herself.
"I was curious if there was a way to go to another world."
"…Pardon?"
Her counterpart seemed taken aback, as if they hadn't expected such an answer.
Scratching her cheek, Harriet realized it sounded ridiculous even after saying it out loud.
"Well, there probably isn't, right?"
She had gone this far just to indulge Reinhardt's unnecessary curiosity. Since she had no intention of getting closer to Reinhardt, wouldn't it be better to stop indulging in this task he had requested?
That's what Harriet thought.
"Well… we can't know whether or not such a world exists… rather than saying it doesn't exist, it's more appropriate to call it an unknown territory…"
The magician before her mumbled with a dumbfounded expression before tilting his head.
"Maybe we both have similar desires."
Another incomprehensible statement.
Did this person also want to open a dimensional gate connected to another world?
But unlike his usual gentle smile, Harriet couldn't find any certainty in his ambiguous grin.
"You've been saying strange things for a while now."
Harriet couldn't help but ask this time, but Roswin merely scratched his head nonchalantly.
"Haha, maybe I'm just a bit excited. I keep letting slip these odd remarks."
What did he mean by "excited"?
"By the way, Your Highness, what do you think of this idea?"
"What idea?"
"Instead of creating a dimensional gate that leads to another world, wouldn't it be easier to create another world? I mean, that kind of idea."
What on earth was this incomprehensible statement? Creating another world was better than a dimensional gate connecting to it?
"Of course, for a mediocre magician like myself, it would be an impossible task. But for Your Highness, the Archduchess, who possesses the pinnacle of magical abilities, wouldn't it be entirely possible to achieve this alone? If it's Your Highness, becoming the god of a new world would be a matter of course..."
"What on earth are you talking about?"
Harriet cut off Roswin's words midway.
Harriet strongly felt that this man was recounting a story that only he knew – a story that existed solely in his head.
An inexplicable discomfort began to take root at the bottom of her heart.
She hadn't realized it before, but something about this man felt incredibly off.
His usually smooth demeanor seemed to falter slightly, accompanied by nonsensical statements that appeared out of the blue, and an unreadable gaze.
Instinctively, Harriet felt she needed to leave.
This man was dangerous.
She no longer wanted to continue their conversation.
"I should be going now. It's getting late..."
"What a shame, Your Highness."
As Harriet glanced around and rose from her seat, Roswin smiled.
"I was hoping to talk a little more with you today. Is there any way we could stay just a bit longer...?"
"...We can always talk later. It's really late tonight."
"Ah... I see."
His words seemed to accept her reasoning, but his expression did not.
That was the breaking point.
Was he planning to force a conversation even if she didn't want to? Harriet felt her blood run cold at Roswin's sudden change in demeanor.
As he got up from his seat, slightly trembling, a faint, sinister smile formed at the corners of his mouth.
"Then, farewell."
He merely bowed deeply toward Harriet.
As if fleeing, Harriet rushed out of the reading room.
An unidentified sense of crisis enveloped her entire being.
