In the laboratory.
Luo Shu, who had found a chair to sit on, curiously examined the device in his hand:
"How does this thing work?"
The object in his hand resembled the VR headsets on the market, but was even slimmer and lighter, more like goggles, complete with ear covers.
Holding this device, Luo Shu found it hard to believe that a VR headset could be compressed to this size, were it not for his trust in Tabane Shinonono's honesty.
The key point was that Tabane had cobbled this together overnight using Copernicus's equipment.
Was this thing reliable?
Not being particularly tech-savvy, Luo Shu harboured such doubts.
"Just put it on your head and say 'Little Tabane is the cutest', then it'll start right up," Tabane Shinonono said with a grin, standing beside Luo Shu.
She casually took the VR headset from Luo Shu's hands, helping him put it on while explaining:
"This is different from the virtual meeting technology used during the conference with Lacus. That was achieved through an Abyss Artefact stored in Copernicus."
"Pure technological virtual reality like this requires a one-minute wait during the first login for data collection."
"Complex stuff like pupil dilation and focal points... I'm sure you don't want me lecturing you, so I'll skip to the point: just wear it and wait one minute. The headset's already on, remember to keep your eyes open."
Luo Shu obediently let Tabane fit the headset over his head.
Once properly worn, he could still see Tabane standing beside him through the orange-tinted lenses.
"The colour tone's not bad, doesn't feel uncomfortable..."
As Luo Shu made this observation, the view before him gradually whitened, then slowly began filling with various colours.
The colours appeared very gradually, apparently to help the user adapt to the changes while recording their reactions.
In less than a minute, the colours faded away, replaced by a vast blue sky stretching before Luo Shu.
"Huh? This is..."
Luo Shu froze momentarily, taking in the white sandy beach, azure sea, and distant horizon where water met sky. He couldn't help exclaiming:
"It's working already?"
Turning his head, Luo Shu looked around and confirmed that the scenery shifted with his gaze, creating the illusion that he was actually standing at the beach's edge.
He could even see sand crabs burrowing into the shore.
"Feels pretty realistic..."
Luo Shu naturally looked down, attempting to step onto the sand, only to hear a thud.
His foot had met the laboratory's solid metal floor.
After a moment's silence, Luo Shu spoke with a hint of complaint:
"So it's visual only? No movement?"
"It's a prototype," Tabane said matter-of-factly. "Besides, with this kind of device, we can't just cut off the brain's signals to the body right away. What if it paralysed someone?"
As she spoke, Tabane produced a full-coverage glove and fitted it onto Luo Shu's hand, adjusting the straps before continuing:
"Now you can use your arms. For legs, you'll have to rely on button controls in the game."
"For full dive capability - moving around the virtual world like normal - you'd need much more specialised equipment."
"That kind of thing can't possibly be made in just one night~"
Hearing Tabane Shinonono say this, Luo Shu actually felt a sense of relief.
While creating VR goggles and gloves overnight and shrinking them to the size of normal windproof goggles and gloves was already outrageous, at least she hadn't gone as far as producing a full-immersion pod.
Well, at least in Luo Shu's view, Tabane's technology was still within the realm of comprehension.
However, at the very next second!
"A professional full-dive pod should be ready by the morning after tomorrow."
'My apologies, I underestimated your skills...'
Luo Shu opened his mouth but ultimately sighed silently:
"So for now, this is just a trial version?"
Luo Shu tried moving his fingers and found that, in both the real and virtual worlds, his hands made corresponding movements.
"Basically, yes. But theoretically speaking, virtual reality technology can already be fully realised."
Tabane raised her hand and pressed something on the rabbit ears she was wearing.
Whatever she pressed, Luo Shu's vision suddenly showed Tabane standing on a beach, wearing a sky-blue ribbon-style bikini.
"Equipment like those nutrient pod virtual dive systems no longer have technical issues. The only remaining problems are biological ones."
"After all, the potential harm or impact of full virtual immersion on reality is still completely unknown."
"It's only because your ability can absorb all damage that I dared to let you use this overnight prototype."
While admiring Tabane's figure, Luo Shu nodded:
"Besides that, there's also my physical data you obtained from the White Knight yesterday."
"Correct~ That needed to be pre-recorded. Since we needed to match the virtual body with the real one, it's a one-to-one reproduction."
Tabane giggled while pointing at her chest, teasing:
"So this data is also one-to-one, you know."
Hearing this, Luo Shu's expression turned somewhat subtle:
"You can do that sort of thing in this virtual world?"
As for what "that sort of thing" referred to - those who understood would understand.
And Tabane certainly understood.
"It's possible, but the result would just be sending certain signals to stimulate the brain. The outcome wouldn't be the same, just partially simulated, I suppose?"
After a moment's silence, Luo Shu said:
"I have a feeling this feature might be used for... improper purposes."
Tabane looked at him curiously:
"Are you talking about yourself, little Luo Shu?"
"Yes, including me."
Luo Shu openly admitted his desires and added:
"But to be honest, compared to electronic stimulation, I prefer actual physical interaction."
After all, it wasn't like he lacked opportunities.
"However, hypothetically speaking, if many people used this simulation for improper activities in the virtual world, would it affect the revival of shipgirls?"
Hearing Luo Shu raise such an academic question left Tabane somewhat baffled.
But she felt there was no need for baseless speculation.
"Then... why don't we try it once?" Tabane tentatively suggested.
Then she received Luo Shu's enthusiastic response.