[The Astral Express Family]
Noah (speech-to-text): Humu, humu… as I expected.
Noah (speech-to-text): Geass is essentially an advanced class of mind magic—one that interferes directly with the target's cognitive senses.
The Herta: Correct.
The Herta: By altering cognitive perception, it rewrites how a person interprets reality—and that rewritten view becomes their truth.
Noah (speech-to-text): But… I don't think it stops there.
The Herta: Hmm? What are you suggesting?
Noah (speech-to-text): From what I can tell about the current condition of these sisters, even if they are formally released as slaves, their status in the world will remain that of slaves.
Noah (speech-to-text): They are fully aware they are under the effects of Geass. They know about it, and they genuinely want to be free from it—which is why they sought Hachi's help in the first place and yet...
Noah (speech-to-text): So based on that… what if it's not their perception that was changed?
Noah (speech-to-text): but something else entirely.
Ruan Mei: I see.
Ruan Mei: What this spell changed… is their truth.
Ruan Mei: The truth of how the very world itself perceives them as living beings.
Everyone: ???
The Herta: How absurd!!!
The Herta: How can something like that rewrite the laws of the world itself?!
The Herta: That's no different from freely altering the facts recorded in a planet's core system!
Noah (speech-to-text): But Hii… magic, in the end, is nothing more than a lie.
Noah (speech-to-text): A lie that we collectively perceive as truth.
Noah (speech-to-text): Which is exactly why belief plays such a critical role in determining how strong a spell's effect becomes.
The Herta: Don't take me for a fool!
The Herta: Of course, I know that!
The Herta: Even if you're my partner and my dearest, you must not question this genius's abilities!
Noah (speech-to-text): O-oh…! Uh… sorry?
The Herta: Hmph! I'll forgive you this time.
The Herta: But you will make it up to me!
Noah (speech-to-text): Yeah… yeah… I'll help with your Simulated Universe project.
The Herta: Good!
The Herta: Now then… where was I?
The Herta: Right!
The Herta: How on earth is this Geass able to rewrite real-world data of a person?! How utterly absurd!
The Herta: It's as if the spell is granting the caster authority to interfere directly with a planet's own systematics!
Kiana: Umm… does anyone actually understand what they're talking about?
Kiana: Or did the Trailblaze language translation just… stop working?
Sora: Don't worry, Kia-nee! I didn't understand a single thing either!
Ms_Love_Elf: Could someone please translate this into a language that humans can understand?
Lumine: @Let's_Be_Friends_Nanoha @Please_Take_Care_of_Me_Fate—do our resident magical girls understand what Noah, Hii, and Ruan Mei were talking about?
Let's_Be_Friends_Nanoha: Nyahahaha~. Nanoha-chan kind of understands it.
Let's_Be_Friends_Nanoha: I get the gist? But explaining it is hard. 🤷
Let's_Be_Friends_Nanoha: It's like… when something feels itchy, but you don't know where exactly it is?
Please_Take_Care_of_Me_Fate: Hmm… Nanoha-chan really is an intuitive type after all.
Lumine: Hmm… how about you, Fii?
Please_Take_Care_of_Me_Fate: Well… I think they're talking about how this Geass altered the very way the world classifies the target of the spell.
Please_Take_Care_of_Me_Fate: So instead of changing how the target sees themselves, the spell changes how their surroundings react to them.
Please_Take_Care_of_Me_Fate: It's like… someone changed the color of the observer's house.
Please_Take_Care_of_Me_Fate: Even if the owner knows something is different, no matter how much they insist otherwise, to the rest of the world, it's still the same color.
Sora: Wow! Fate-nee is amazing! I actually understood it!
Kiana: Yeah! You're really good, Fii!
Kiana: Even I understand how this Geass thing works now!
Gabriel: To be able to make Kii-san understand such a complex concept… I salute you, Fii-san.
Ms_Love_Elf: Gabby is right, you know, Fii.
Ms_Love_Elf: Being able to make Kii actually understand something is a very precious talent!
Let's_Be_Friends_Nanoha: Ehem! That's our Fate-chan! 😏
Please_Take_Care_of_Me_Fate: E-ehh?!
Please_Take_Care_of_Me_Fate: A-aren't you all praising me a bit too much?!
Please_Take_Care_of_Me_Fate: I didn't say anything that special…
Alice: Well, since both Nanoha and Fate are new, you probably didn't realize how hard it was for us to get Kiana to actually study.
Anis: Kiana is honestly really smart… but whenever the Captain is nearby, she somehow just stops thinking altogether.
Hajime: According to what Theresa-san told us, Kaslanas tend to have a partner who functions as their external brain.
Hajime: The moment they relax and rely on someone… their thinking power just shuts off.
Kiana: Hey!!!! Why are you all talking badly about me?! 😤
Noah (speech-to-text): I think Kii is perfectly fine just the way she is.
Noah (speech-to-text): It just means she trusts me. So don't worry, Kii—I'll always be with you, no matter what.
Kiana: Captain!!!!!!!!!! 😍
Noah (speech-to-text): Kii!!!! ❣️
Team Star-Pulse: …
Everyone: Brrr!!! Why does it suddenly feel cold?!
Please_Take_Care_of_Me_Fate: I can't help but feel a sense of déjà vu from this…
Lumine: Fii, this is the same way Noah treats Nonon… 😾
Please_Take_Care_of_Me_Fate: Oh!
Let's_Be_Friends_Nanoha: ???
Hachiman: Alright—back to the topic. Now that we know what Geass actually is…
Hachiman: What can we do to deal with it?
Everyone: @Noah, CAPTAIN PLEASE SHARE YOUR WISDOM!!!!
The Herta: Hmph! So you all ask my dear instead of me, is that it?
Noah (speech-to-text): Ahahaha! No need to get jealous, Hii!
Noah (speech-to-text): You know how much we value your opinions, right?
The Herta: Hmph! I don't care.
Everyone: 😅
Ms_Love_Elf: Geez, Hii! No need to act all tsun-tsun!
Ms_Love_Elf: Me, Kii, and Gabby can clearly see that proud little grin of yours.
Kiana & Gabriel: Hehehehe! 😇
The Herta: …
Noah (speech-to-text): @Ms_Love_Elf, my lovely Ellie—send me a pic, please!
Ms_Love_Elf: Leave it to me!
The Herta: E-LY-SI-A!!!! Don't you dare!!!
The Herta: And you, dear! Stop asking for unrelated things and explain your plan at once!!
Ms_Love_Elf & Noah (speech-to-text): Ehe! 😜
Hachiman: Noah, you can go flirt with your wives later. For now, tell us what we should do.
Noah (speech-to-text): Finnnneee.
Noah (speech-to-text): To release these girls from Geass, I can think of several approaches.
Noah (speech-to-text): The first—and the easiest in theory, but hardest to execute—is to find the original caster and have them remove the Geass themselves.
Noah (speech-to-text): Alternatively, we could find someone else who possesses Geass and have them overwrite the existing order.
Noah (speech-to-text): There's also the option of obtaining the same spell and casting it yourselves.
Noah (speech-to-text): The second approach—while the most time-consuming—is also the safest.
Noah (speech-to-text): Devise a counter-spell. Either by directly canceling the Geass or by rendering its effects completely useless.
Mei: Hmm?
Mei: What's the difference between those two?
Noah (speech-to-text): Well… the first removes the Geass entirely.
Noah (speech-to-text): The second leaves the spell intact, but its effects no longer function.
Kiana: @Please_Take_Care_of_Me_Fate, Fii, please translate!
Please_Take_Care_of_Me_Fate: Ahahaha…
Please_Take_Care_of_Me_Fate: What Noah means is this—
Please_Take_Care_of_Me_Fate: For the first option, we create a spell that completely cleanses and removes the Geass from both girls, returning them to the state they were in before it was ever cast.
Please_Take_Care_of_Me_Fate: The second option is to make the Geass ineffective.
Please_Take_Care_of_Me_Fate: Think of it like flipping an off switch, the spell is still there, but it's no longer active.
Everyone: Ohhh!!! We see!!
Kiana: Thank you, Fii-sensei!
Everyone: Thank you, Fate-sensei!!
Please_Take_Care_of_Me_Fate: N-no… w-well… you're welcome, I guess.
Noah (speech-to-text): …
Noah (speech-to-text): Alright, moving on.
Noah (speech-to-text): The third approach is actually available to us, but I can't guarantee the aftereffects.
Noah (speech-to-text): We can use the characteristics of the Paths themselves to counter the effects of Geass.
Noah (speech-to-text): Destruction—directly destroy the Geass, or at least suppress its effects.
Noah (speech-to-text): Remembrance—turn the Geass or its effects into a sealed memory bubble.
Noah (speech-to-text): Trailblaze—create a path where the effects of Geass simply fail.
Noah (speech-to-text): Nihility—reduce the Geass to nothingness, or erase its influence.
Noah (speech-to-text): Erudition—rewrite or modify the internal logic of the spell.
Noah (speech-to-text): Hunt—similar to Destruction, but more precise and forceful.
Noah (speech-to-text): Harmony—use tuning techniques to render the spell inert.
Everyone: …
The Herta: How should I put this…
The Herta: Your suggestions are even more absurd than the cognitive rewrite effects of Geass itself.
Noah (speech-to-text): ???
Noah (speech-to-text): Now… onto the fourth approach.
Everyone: There's more?!
Noah (speech-to-text): Yeah? Of course.
Everyone: …
Noah (speech-to-text): Anyway… the fourth approach is similar to the third—but this time, I'd use my Divine Keys instead.
Kiana: Captain?!
Lumine: Noah, are you serious?!
Elysia: My dear Noah… are you for real right now?
The Herta: That suggestion is so absurd that Little Pink changed her nickname back to normal!
The Herta: And even so—I agree with them. You want to use Divine Keys to solve this?!
Noah (speech-to-text): Yeah. That's right.
Noah (speech-to-text): I don't really see a problem with it, though.
Noah (speech-to-text): I believe the 6th, 8th, 10th, 11th, and 12th Keys can deal with the Geass easily.
Noah (speech-to-text): I just can't guarantee what kind of aftereffects we'll see, though, same as with the third approach.
Everyone: …..
Ruan Mei: …No wonder you couldn't take your eyes off the Trailblazer, Herta.
Ruan Mei: He speaks about utterly insane things as if they're perfectly normal.
The Herta: I KNOW, RIGHT?!
The Herta: I swear, this man is going to drive me insane someday!!!!
Kiana, Lumine, Gabriel & Elysia: Right! RIGHT!! 😭
Let's_Be_Friends_Nanoha: Ah… what should we do, Fate-chan… our hubby is talking about something crazy like it's just the weather.
Please_Take_Care_of_Me_Fate: I suppose… this is what it means to be married to Noah.
Noah (speech-to-text): …
Noah (speech-to-text): So… can I move on to the fifth approach?
Everyone: There's still more?! You're not satisfied yet?!
Noah (speech-to-text): Well, the more options we have, the better, right?
Hajime: Just how do you even come up with this many ideas?!
Hachiman: You said earlier you only had a rough idea, but…
Tobio: If this is your definition of a rough idea…
Kouki: We honestly don't know if we can keep up with your real ideas.
Noah (speech-to-text): Relax, bros.
Noah (speech-to-text): Everything I've said so far is still just conjecture. I'm not even sure how well any of it would actually work.
Noah (speech-to-text): Most of these are brute-force methods…
Noah (speech-to-text): Well—except for the second approach.
Noah (speech-to-text): And the fifth approach… which I'm about to explain.
Hachiman: I don't know if I'll regret this later, but… fine.
Hachiman: I'm the one who asked for it. Shoot, Noah.
Hachiman: Tell us the fifth approach.
Everyone: Hachiman!!!! You truly are a hero!!!
Noah (speech-to-text): You guys are weird…
Everyone: We don't want to hear that from you!!!
Noah (speech-to-text): …Alright, the fifth approach.
Noah (speech-to-text): Have my Ellie use the Power of Origin to clear the Geass.
Elysia: Huh?
Everyone: What??
Noah (speech-to-text): Well, as the Herrscher of Origin, Ellie has the authority to freely interfere with causality itself.
Noah (speech-to-text): So she can sever? Break? Remove? Whatever form the Geass's effects take.
Everyone: …
Hachiman: T-that actually makes sense?!
Kiana: Is it bad that… with how Ellie usually acts, I actually forgot she's one of the most overpowered members of the crew…
Lumine: It's not just you, Kii.
Lumine: In my head, Ellie is just that silly girl who completely breaks down whenever we mention her weight.
Elysia: Hey!!!! Just what are you two talking about?!
Gabriel: S-sorry, Elysia-san… I think of you the same way, too.
Elysia: ???!!!! Even you, Gabby?!
The Herta: Heee…
Elysia: Hii!!!!!!
Noah (speech-to-text): ??? I mean… I think Ellie is perfect, though?
Noah (speech-to-text): The balance between firmness and softness is just right. She's really great to cuddle.
Noah (speech-to-text): Just hugging her brightens my mood and heals my soul.
Elysia: My good Noah!!!! You really are the best!!!!
Team Star-Pulse: …
Everyone: GET A ROOM, YOU TWO!!!!
Noah (speech-to-text): Ahem! Back to the topic… these are the approaches I can think of for now.
Noah (speech-to-text): The choice is yours, Hachi, Mei.
Hachiman: Thanks, Noah. You've given us a lot to think about, but… ultimately, I'm more inclined toward the second and fifth approach.
Mei: I agree with Hachiman.
Mei: I want to go with the safest route as much as possible.
Mei: Either we create a counter-spell, or we have Ellie remove the Geass using her Power of Origin.
Ruan Mei: If we plan to use Elysia's Power of Origin, then we'll need to wait until this Trailblaze expedition is complete.
Sora: Huh? Why is that, Ruan Mei-nee?
Ruan Mei: Because right now, we're in the middle of letting this world understand who the Trailblaze is.
Ruan Mei: Any large-scale movements could make us appear as enemies of the world instead.
Kiana: So… it's the same problem as before?
Kiana: Like when we were choosing reinforcements for Hachiman, Mei, and Sora-chan?
Gabriel: Unfortunately, yes.
Gabriel: Because of this planet's active defense mechanism, anything that could threaten the lives of all beings in the world will be branded as an enemy.
Gabriel: From what we've learned so far, this system was created as a safety measure by the gods of this world—after it was nearly destroyed by the Antimatter Legion fifty thousand years ago.
The Herta: This world survived a cosmic invasion and was left traumatized.
The Herta: Now it's doing its damn best to ensure its own continued survival.
Mei: …So that means we can only rely on the second approach the Captain suggested for now.
Alice: Creating a counter-spell isn't actually that difficult.
Alice: What it really takes is an absurd amount of patience—and the will to keep going.
Euphy: There will be countless calculations and formulas involved.
Euphy: We'll need to make sure that everything we add works exactly as intended.
Anis: And we can't forget about failures.
Anis: Since we're building the spell from scratch, we need to make sure every piece of logic and every equation works together without interfering with the others.
Lavi: If we can obtain even part of the Geass formula, we could drastically shorten the research time.
Lavi: Because once we understand how the spell works, we can directly derive a method to cancel it.
Sae: That's how most counter-spells are designed.
Sae: By dissecting the original spell piece by piece, we can understand its structure, making the creation of a counter far easier.
Let's_Be_Friends_Nanoha: Or we could think about it the other way around!
Let's_Be_Friends_Nanoha: Instead of creating something new, we take the Geass spell formula itself and modify it to our advantage!
Let's_Be_Friends_Nanoha: It's way easier than building an entirely new spell from scratch.
Please_Take_Care_of_Me_Fate: Yes. By using the same Geass spell matrix, we can edit it and adjust the current effects placed on the two of them.
Please_Take_Care_of_Me_Fate: That way, we drastically reduce the amount of calculations and variables we need to consider, which should save a lot of time.
Noah (speech-to-text): Ah… about that.
Noah (speech-to-text): I actually do have a spell that can dispel magical effects.
Everyone: Huh?! You do?!
Noah (speech-to-text): Yeah… it was actually the very first method I thought of.
Noah (speech-to-text): The one I mentioned to Hachi earlier—the one I wasn't sure would work, since my world's magic system and DesuMachi's are fundamentally different.
Noah (speech-to-text): Even now, I can't guarantee it will work.
Hachiman: I see.
Hachiman: Since you brought it up… does that give us a new direction to work with?
Noah (speech-to-text): Possibly.
Noah (speech-to-text): After hearing what Non said, I think modifying this spell might allow us to dispel the curse on Arisa-chan and Lulu-chan.
Noah (speech-to-text): The spell is called Finite.
Noah (speech-to-text): There's also an upgraded version—Finite Incantatem.
Noah (speech-to-text): I know the spell formula.
Noah (speech-to-text): But… It's engraved into my family crest.
Hachiman: …You mean?
Noah (speech-to-text): It's a family magic.
Noah (speech-to-text): I can't teach or show the exact formula to anyone unless they're connected to my family in some way.
Noah (speech-to-text): By blood or by marriage.
Noah (speech-to-text): Even if I showed it to others, they wouldn't be able to make sense of it.
Noah (speech-to-text): It would be like trying to read an alien language with no way to decipher it.
Kiana: Ehem~✌️
Lumine: Hmm… but even if me, Kii, Ellie, Sii, and Gabby can extract it from the crest, we wouldn't really be much help, right?
Lumine: Only Nonon, Fii, Hachan, and maybe Hii can actually develop the modified spell.
Lumine: Or… perhaps even you, Gabby?
Gabriel: Sorry… I'm actually not very good at magic modification.
Gabriel: My holy and light magics are racial traits, so I only need to have an image of them to invoke them.
The Herta: Hmm… I could probably handle it.
The Herta: But I'd still need help verifying whether the modification actually works.
Let's_Be_Friends_Nanoha: Sorry!
Let's_Be_Friends_Nanoha: Even though Fate-chan and I want to help, we both have duties to attend to, so we can't offer our full time. 🙏
Please_Take_Care_of_Me_Fate: Yes… Sorry, everyone.
Please_Take_Care_of_Me_Fate: We also have preparations to do right now. 🙏
Noah (speech-to-text): It's a little sad, coming from the one who proposed this, but… even me, Sii, and Hachan can't join either.
Noah (speech-to-text): The three of us are preoccupied right now.
Kiana: And here I was wondering why Onee-chan hasn't been replying to our messages.
Kiana: So she's busy too, huh.
Hajime: Huh?
Hajime: So that's why you're using speech-to-text to chat with us?
Noah (speech-to-text): Yeah…
Hachiman: No—what you did was already more than enough.
Hachiman: You gave us a possible solution. I'm genuinely thankful for that.
Mei: Hachiman is right, Captain.
Mei: Thank you for the help. What you did was more than enough.
Sora: Thank you, Noah-nii!
Sora: I'll make sure to convey all of this to Arisa-chan and Lulu-chan, too!
Lavi: That's right, Captain-san!
Lavi: Even if we can't directly help with modifying the spell, we can still support them in other ways!
Alice: Lavi's right, Captain.
Alice: Please don't worry! We'll also assist Madam Herta in whatever we can.
Anis: Yeah! Leave it to us, Captain!
Euphy: Please rest assured, Noah-sama.
Sae: 👍
Noah (speech-to-text): Ahahaha… well, I wasn't really worried about Hii to begin with.
Noah (speech-to-text): But with all of you involved, it's definitely more reassuring.
Noah (speech-to-text): That said… There is one person who can directly help Hii with modifying the spell.
The Herta: Hoo?
Noah (speech-to-text): COME FORTH!
Noah (speech-to-text): USING MY BROTHER-IN-LAW'S AUTHORITY, I SUMMON YOU!
Noah (speech-to-text): BRONYA-CHAN! @Haxxor_Bunny
Haxxor_Bunny: ( ᗜ ˰ ᗜ )
Everyone: SHE ACTUALLY CAME?????!!!!!!!!
Kiana: You actually showed up, Bratnya?!
Kiana: Wait—since when have you even been in this group?!
Haxxor_Bunny: Bronya has always been in the group, Idioka-neesama.
Haxxor_Bunny: Also, for those Bronya has not yet met—greetings.
Haxxor_Bunny: Bronya's name is Bronya.
Haxxor_Bunny: Sister-in-law of Noah-niisama.
Haxxor_Bunny: And fiancée of Touya Alden.
Kiana: Who are you calling an idiot, you brat?!
Hajime: So it's you!!! Ahahaha—nice to see you again, Bronya!
Hajime: How have you been? Did your training with Uncle Yang go well?
Hajime: Should we start calling you Welt Bronya now?
Haxxor_Bunny: Hajime-niisama, you really do love to jest.
Haxxor_Bunny: But yes—Bronya's training is progressing smoothly, thanks to your advice.
Haxxor_Bunny: Bronya can now safely reconstruct the Star of Eden… and even modify it into any form Bronya desires.
Haxxor_Bunny: That said, Bronya has no intention of changing her name to Welt.
Haxxor_Bunny: Besides… Bronya will become an Alden after she marries Touya.
Anis: Huh?
Anis: So Bronya-chan can actually view the spells in your family library, Captain?
Noah (speech-to-text): Yes—but only in a very limited capacity, since Bronya and Touya haven't officially married yet.
Noah (speech-to-text): Being the eldest son and next head of our family, I do have the authority to propose who a member of our family may marry.
Noah (speech-to-text): I recommended Bronya-chan to our family crest since it connects every member of the Alden line.
Noah (speech-to-text): Fortunately, the crest accepted my proposal… as did our current patriarch, our father, and the matriarchs, my father's wives.
Noah (speech-to-text): Even though Bronya-chan and Touya haven't met yet, Touya was still able to learn about her through the crest.
Noah (speech-to-text): At the moment, aside from Bronya-chan, only Columbina, Ronova, Buer, and Alya should be able to do the same, although they didn't know.
Noah (speech-to-text): While the other candidates still can't access our family's deeper secrets.
Hajime: How should I put this… your family is literally magical, huh?
Noah (speech-to-text): Well… it was all developed by my ancestors.
Noah (speech-to-text): To protect our members from those who might try to exploit our secrets.
Noah (speech-to-text): Anyway—Bronya-chan, you saw the entire conversation, right?
Noah (speech-to-text): Can we rely on you to help Hii with developing the modification of Finite?
Haxxor_Bunny: Yes, Noah-niisama.
Haxxor_Bunny: You may rely on Bronya for that task.
Haxxor_Bunny: Herta-neesama, Bronya will do her best to assist you and not hold you back.
The Herta: Hee! I'm not worried about that at all.
The Herta: As my personal favorite—aside from my student Asta—I trust your abilities very much.
Haxxor_Bunny: Thank you for trusting Bronya.
Haxxor_Bunny: Bronya will do her best.
Noah (speech-to-text): While Bronya and Hii work on the modified spell…
Noah (speech-to-text): Alice, Anis—I'd like to entrust you with developing your own counter-spell as well.
Noah (speech-to-text): Mei, Hachi, Sora-chan, if possible, try to obtain the spell formula of Geass, even a partial one.
Noah (speech-to-text): Or at least its matrix.
Noah (speech-to-text): I'll help decipher it as much as I can.
Alice: You can leave that to us, Captain.
Alice: We know you're busy with all sorts of things, so let us handle this instead.
Anis: That's right, Captain!
Anis: Even if it's more difficult, with our talents and abilities, we should be able to manage it ourselves!
Noah (speech-to-text): But…
Hajime: Geez, Noah! Just leave it to us already.
Hajime: You forgot that I'm here too, didn't you?
Hajime: I'll do my best to help Alice and Anis, and I might even try developing a counter-spell in my own way.
Tobio: Don't forget about us either.
Tobio: Team Slash/Dog's Sae is also an accomplished mage. She can help as well.
Sae: Tobio-kun… 😊
Sae: Yes, Captain. Please rest assured—I'll do my very best too.
Noah (speech-to-text): You guys… heh.
Noah (speech-to-text): Alright then. I won't hold back anymore.
Noah (speech-to-text): I'll leave this to Team Reason and Team Slash/Dog.
Team Reason & Team Slash/Dog: Ohh!!
Mei: Everyone, thank you so much for your help.
Mei: We'll do our best to find the formula and matrix as quickly as possible.
Hachiman: We'll handle our part too, so you can rest easy.
Noah (speech-to-text): Good.
Noah (speech-to-text): Now then—with our duties set, Astral Express crew… move out!
Everyone: Let's gooo!!!!!!
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