Chapter 101: Three Projects

Makarov agreed with Nate's idea of developing a magic app, though he found it a bit hard to believe. Even though the Magic Net was already quite impressive, turning a powerful magic like "Fairy Law" into something like a purchasable magic item that anyone could use? That sounded almost like the work of a God of Magic!

"If you can pull that off, I'll teach you our guild's other two Great Fairy Magics as well," Makarov said with a hearty laugh, even offering a real reward.

Fairy Tail's three legendary magics: Fairy Law, Fairy Glitter, and Fairy Sphere.

"Master, you said it! No take-backs!" Nate smiled, accepting the challenge.

Nate knew that Makarov likely didn't know the other two magics himself, but they were certainly passed down in the guild, probably through magic texts. That would be just as good!

With a tangible reward in mind, Nate felt a surge of motivation—he was even ready to code the app himself! He glanced over at Wendy and Carla, who were being entertained by Mirajane. Other guild members had also gathered around Wendy, curious about the newcomer. Not wanting to disturb them, Nate found a quiet corner and opened the Magic Net's development tools.

"Hm... How should I approach this?"

While the idea was exciting, the technical side wasn't easy, and Nate found himself a bit stuck. He started mentally going over his project list:

1. Developing a live broadcast feature that combined visuals, audio, and text—a sort of "live streaming" function.

2. Creating a new game.

3. Building the magic app.

The first task was relatively straightforward. Similar magic already existed in the world, and Nate just needed to adapt it for the Magic Net. The main challenge wasn't the functionality itself but whether the Magic Net's magic reserves could handle large-scale video streaming.

"I could increase the magic cost for users while they're watching streams," Nate mused, "but weaker mages might run out of magic pretty quickly. If that happens, it could cause dissatisfaction."

Nate rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Maybe I could 'redistribute' the magic load? Have users with stronger magic share the cost with weaker users to keep things balanced. That dynamic balance… would be tricky to manage."

"I'll have to test it myself by hosting a few streams once the feature is live."

With that, Nate put the first project on hold and turned to the second one: the game.

So far, the Magic Net only offered three simple games, like Mahjong and Poker, which were fun but limited. Nate wanted to develop something bigger this time—a new game he already had a name for: Magic Arena.

The inspiration came from Fairy Tail's infamous tendency to solve everything with fights. Since everyone loved battling so much, why not let them fight online instead?

"I'll use the Deep Web's power to create a virtual environment—a battleground for duels," Nate thought. "Users' minds could enter the virtual world to fight without worrying about property damage. I'll also introduce a ranking system: Bronze Mage, Silver Mage, Gold, Diamond, Master, and finally, King! The top 10 players in the King rank will earn the title of 'Ten Wizard Saints.'"

Nate was confident that Magic Arena would become wildly popular. Not only would it offer a fun experience, but it would also provide him with a wealth of information about various magic types, helping him grow his own understanding. On top of that, it would allow him to collect even more magic power.

And then, there was Ur. "Ur's stuck in the Deep Web all day; she must be bored out of her mind. This will give her something to do—maybe she'll even enjoy climbing the ranks."

Of course, Nate would need to include a feature that prevented users from stripping off their clothes. Knowing Ur, she might start taking things off mid-fight.

But there was a major problem with the game: ensuring player safety. Since players would be entering the game as mental projections, injuries were inevitable. While physical harm wouldn't affect their real bodies, mental damage was still a risk. If Nate couldn't figure out how to prevent that, the game would be too dangerous to release. People playing a game and ending up hurt—or worse, dead—wasn't a risk worth taking.

He'd been mulling over this issue since he first thought about the game, but he hadn't yet found a solution.

"What's got you looking so serious?" Levy suddenly sat across from Nate, her curiosity piqued.

Her eyes brightened as if she'd figured it out. "Oh! Are you trying to decide between Mira and Erza?"

Nate: "..."

Seriously? The first thing that comes to mind is gossip?

"Come on, tell me!" Levy pressed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "You and Erza went to the resort together a few days ago, right? Did anything happen?"

Does a kiss count? Nate thought wryly. "I'm thinking about the new game."

"Game?" Levy looked disappointed. "That's all?"

Wow, you're really into gossip, huh? Nate was a bit exasperated. Levy had always been curious about his relationships, first with Mirajane and now with Erza.

"Don't be stingy! Tell me!" Levy insisted, leaning forward. "I haven't even told Mira about you and Erza going on a trip together, so you can trust me. But seriously, who are you going to choose?"

"Why can't I have both?"

"Eh!?" Levy's eyes widened in shock.

Nate sighed. "I'm seriously focused on the game development right now. There's a big problem I need to solve. Can you help me think of something?"

He quickly explained the concept of Magic Arena.

Levy's excitement over gossip vanished, and her eyes lit up with intrigue instead. "That sounds so cool! When can we play it? You have to finish it soon! I'll keep an eye on you to make sure you don't slack off."

Nate chuckled. Levy's enthusiasm was infectious, but her excitement didn't solve the safety issue.

"I'm stuck on the part where players' spirits enter the game. If they get seriously hurt, it could have bad consequences."

Levy nodded, understanding the concern. "I see… So, that's what's troubling you."

She furrowed her brow, thinking hard. Then, suddenly, her face lit up again. "What about celestial spirits?"

"Celestial spirits?"

Nate's eyes widened, starting to see where she was going with this.

Levy nodded eagerly. "Celestial spirits can't die, no matter how badly they're hurt. They'll just return to the Celestial Spirit World when their energy runs out. Maybe you could create something similar for the game. Players could temporarily transform into 'Spirit Bodies' when they enter. If they get hurt, they'd be kicked out of the game rather than injured in real life."

You're asking me to invent a whole new type of magic, aren't you? Nate thought. This girl has a lot of faith in my abilities.

Still, Nate wasn't sure whether to feel flattered or exasperated. "Levy, do you really think I can pull this off?"

Levy smiled brightly. "Of course! I believe in you, Nate. Maybe you could even base it on the same principles as Thought Projections."

Then, as if realizing she had drifted away from her main interest, Levy returned to her favorite topic: gossip. "So, about Mira or Erza—which one are you going to pick? Come on, spill!"

Nate just shook his head, laughing inwardly. 'I'm not telling you anything!'

~~~

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