"Actually, there's still one thing that can't be explained: exactly how Yuu can directly access the network with his consciousness. The process of adapting to communication with data is inseparable from this inexplicable phenomenon."
Kamiyā Yuu asked curiously, "Can't you do the same thing? And you've already developed the relevant technology."
"No. The fundamental principle of communication between consciousness and data is the same, but we need extremely sophisticated equipment to complete that process. Yuu is different. Within the scope of my knowledge, directly accessing a data network with consciousness is equivalent to [a primitive human creating a supercomputer without using any tools whatsoever]. The reason we're capable of building supercomputers today is because of hundreds of thousands of years of accumulated knowledge and technology. The evolution of intelligence, the changing of eras, industrial revolutions—every stage has a clear and concrete body of knowledge behind it. However, since Yuu possesses something even more inexplicable by conventional reasoning, such as the consciousness space, this process isn't entirely impossible to understand on a rudimentary level."
Kamiyā Yuu frowned. "So that means..."
The corners of Blake's lips curved upward, adding a touch of playfulness to her cool beauty.
"No matter how strange something that happens to Yuu may be, we should still consider it within the bounds of reason."
"You make me sound like some precious giant panda." Kamiyā Yuu had been listening seriously to her explanation, only to be caught between laughter and exasperation by Blake's sudden joke.
Blake replied with a serious expression, "That analogy isn't appropriate. Yuu is far more precious than an animal that possesses the physique of a bear yet makes a living by acting cute."
She opened her palm. Space seemed to tear and distort above it as emerald-green motes of light slowly gathered together, forming a blue candy pill that looked no different from an ordinary piece of candy.
"The knowledge has already been extracted from the database. Yuu possesses a stronger foundation and greater ability than we do when it comes to communication between consciousness and data. Therefore, I've directly used data to construct the entire body of knowledge relating to the Windows system. Yuu only needs to receive and comprehend it."
This candy pill contained all knowledge related to the Windows system that Blake had collected through the [Hacker] system. If Kamiyā Yuu's consciousness were compared to a computer, then this candy pill would be a TXT document containing that knowledge. Eating it was equivalent to copying the document directly from the [Hacker] space. As for comprehending and learning the contents of that document, Kamiyā Yuu would have to handle that himself.
The [Hacker] space was a combination of a supercomputer and the [Ruby] system. Its actual data-processing capabilities far surpassed Kamiyā Yuu's individual consciousness. Collecting the entire world's body of knowledge concerning the Windows system took no more than a few minutes.
Kamiyā Yuu was no stranger to the Windows system. He himself was a highly skilled computer engineer. Previously, whether copying the MAYA 3D modeling software from the previous world's network or roaming freely through this world's network with his consciousness, he had intentionally or unintentionally come into contact with knowledge about computer systems. However, he had basically never tried to understand or study them on a deeper level.
"Doesn't look like it'll taste very good."
Kamiyā Yuu smacked his lips, reached out, took the candy pill, and ate it. After biting into it, he immediately took back what he'd just said. Blake had thoughtfully made the blue candy pill taste like his favorite café au lait.
...
"Phew~ It's still pretty complicated. Looks like I'll have to learn it slowly, one step at a time."
After waking up, Kamiyā Yuu felt his mind packed with knowledge about code and sighed inwardly. Even after spending several days studying within the consciousness space, he still hadn't managed to fully digest all the knowledge concerning the Windows system.
Kamiyā Yuu looked around at the somewhat dim room, walked over to the window, and drew back the curtains. His gaze passed over the green park toward the forest of buildings in the bustling city beyond. Along the horizon, rays of morning light were piercing between the skyscrapers and spilling across the city streets. He opened the window, and slightly muggy yet fresh air rushed against his face, immediately refreshing him.
"Yuu, aren't you going to sleep a little longer?" Kamiyā Sora hugged the blanket and looked drowsily at Kamiyā Yuu, still brooding over what had happened last night.
Kamiyā Yuu returned to the bedside and pinched her small, straight nose.
"Yeah. Come to think of it, I don't have to work today."
"Mm."
Kamiyā Sora rubbed her cheek against the back of his hand and murmured a response before quickly falling asleep again.
...
"Yuu, I'm heading out."
Kamiyā Sora wore a black women's business suit. It fit her reasonably well, but no matter how one looked at it, the outfit simply didn't suit her appearance or temperament. She looked like a middle-school girl who had forcibly put on professional attire to emphasize that she was a grown woman. Kamiyā Sora had already graduated from high school, yet her petite figure and appearance seemed permanently frozen in adolescence—neither overly childish nor possessing any sense of maturity.
"Be careful on your way."
Kamiyā Yuu smiled and waved to Kamiyā Sora as she stood in the entryway preparing to leave for work.
Click.
After watching her close the apartment door behind her, he returned to his study and turned on his computer. Although it was his day off, Kamiyā Yuu was still impatient to test the ability he had just acquired.
"I should just about be able to experiment with it now."
Click, click.
Kamiyā Yuu double-clicked the mouse and opened the writing software he'd reinstalled. After thinking for a moment, he first placed his finger against the USB port.
"Hmm... No obvious change. Doesn't work."
Kamiyā Yuu was disappointed by the failure of his rather ridiculous idea. He then turned his attention to the computer tower's other ports, including the power socket.
"Directly touching something that's carrying electricity? Forget it. One mistake and I'll be going straight to heaven."
Kamiyā Yuu shook his head and abandoned the crazy idea.
In truth, he still wanted to figure out the point Blake had raised. He was capable of directly communicating between consciousness and data without the assistance of any medium whatsoever. Even he couldn't explain this process, so it was probably another direct effect of the consciousness space.
He took several deep breaths and slowly exhaled, adjusting his mental state before sinking into what he had named the state of mental void. Only in this state could he perceive with absolute clarity the sensation of communication between data and consciousness.
His intuitive sense of the connection between consciousness and data was extremely clear, but the moment he tried to use his consciousness to interfere with the system's code and data, everything became difficult and sluggish. The countless layers of changes within the data were extraordinarily difficult to control. If he hadn't studied the Windows system beforehand, he would have failed right from the start.
"S... SS... s... s... ab... e..."
Kamiyā Yuu stared blankly at the computer screen. Although his hands hadn't moved at all, English letters began appearing one after another in the writing software.
"Re... lease... release... true... name..."
"EX..."
...
From morning until noon, and from noon until evening when Kamiyā Sora returned home, Kamiyā Yuu tried again and again. Eventually, he managed to record more than a hundred characters in the writing software using nothing but his consciousness.
During that time, Kamiyā Yuu had corrupted the writing software dozens of times. On one occasion, he had even damaged the Windows system itself so badly that he had no choice but to reinstall the operating system.
"If this keeps up, my computer's probably going to be completely ruined in a few days."
For the final time, he used his consciousness to close the computer program, then wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
He had at least known his limits. Although he'd spent most of the day experimenting, he hadn't gone all out. Otherwise, if Sora saw him physically and mentally exhausted again, he truly wouldn't know how to explain it to her.
Using his consciousness to manipulate changes in data according to Blake's method was far easier than blindly fumbling around without understanding anything. Once he became proficient at it, the speed at which he could use his consciousness to access computer data and record text might even surpass the speed at which he could type with his hands.