Merchant From Earth in the Magical World

Yan Xing quickly hailed a cab back to his apartment.

Then, Yan Xing found himself in his room at the Lord's Mansion in Nuta City.

[The Deep Space Whisperer's Spellbook has detected an item on you suitable as a soul core for a spellbook... Do you wish to merge this soul core with the spellbook?]

Merge!

A laptop worth tens of thousands... I've done right by you, haven't I?

Yan Xing's newly purchased laptop was drawn into his consciousness.

The spellbook and the laptop rotated side by side, spiraling around each other. Countless glowing magical runes burst forth from the spellbook, while innumerable data chains emerged from the laptop. Several lightning chains interwove between them, magical runes and data chains mingling and altering each other's forms.

As the fusion progressed, the chains of lightning between the spellbook and laptop grew denser, gravity pulling them toward the center. The magical runes and data chains continued to intermingle, transforming from initial chaos to order. The magical runes were deconstructed into binary sequences of zeros and ones, while the data chains reconfigured themselves into new runic forms.

Ultimately, this resulted in an extremely complex magic circle.

The magic circle enveloped both the spellbook and the laptop. After an intense, dazzling flash of light, a brand-new spellbook rested at the center of the colossal magic circle.

Gradually, the magic circle extinguished layer by layer.

The sound of a computer program booting up rang out.

DING... DING... DING DING...

[Merge complete.]

[Deep Space Whisperer's Spellbook has acquired a soul core.]

[Soul core consciousness generating.]

[Soul core consciousness generation complete. Please name the soul consciousness of your spellbook.]

Time to name again.

Technology is a productive force, and magic-enhanced technology is the ultimate productive force. In the future, if anyone dares to defy me, I'll let them taste the hammer of justice, powered by magic and technology.

"You'll be called Cui Cui."

The spellbook's soul core was successfully named.

Within Yan Xing's consciousness, the spellbook lay quietly in the vast mental expanse. It emitted a soft glow, illuminating a modest area.

Next to the spellbook, a vague figure gradually materialized.

"Master, hello! Please design a character for Cui Cui, the Deep Space Whisperer—there are 4,675 pre-installed characters for you to choose from. You may also open the image design software to design a customized character yourself."

I can design the image for the spellbook's soul core? Now this interests me!

Yan Xing's purchased laptop came with many pre-installed programs, containing a vast number of character images—real-life portraits, game characters, anime characters, card art... He could choose whichever he liked.

"Display all the character images from the pre-installed programs," Yan Xing commanded.

He wasn't skilled with image design software. Instead of creating something weird himself, he preferred to use the ready-made images.

"As you wish, Master," a mechanical voice responded.

In an instant, all the character images from the pre-installed programs appeared in Yan Xing's consciousness. They were arranged so densely, it was enough to trigger trypophobia.

The first thing Yan Xing did was to filter out all the male characters.

It wasn't that he discriminated against men. After all, the spellbook existed within his own consciousness, and the thought of having a man living in there made Yan Xing feel uncomfortable all over.

Catch the formatted version at M|V|LEM_PYR.

Then he filtered out all anthropomorphized animal characters.

Yan Xing originally had no bias against animal girls, but after seeing the female members of the Swamp Werewolf Clan, his fantasies about animal girls suffered a bit of a blow. The gap between imagination and reality was rather large, so it was better to keep things conventional.

He then filtered out all characters that were either too old or too young.

Better to be realistic and choose those who are youthful, beautiful, and vibrant.

After several rounds of filtering, there were still over two thousand images left.

It was time to slowly make a choice.

After meticulously sifting through the selections, Yan Xing chose a classical beauty as the visual prototype for his spellbook's soul core.

The live model was extremely beautiful. Although he couldn't recognize which female celebrity it was, her mastery of classical attire was something not just any actress could emulate. The poise was spot-on; the face was pleasing to the eye; the figure was beyond reproach... Of course, being this beautiful, there definitely were some post-production touches involved. But that's exactly what I, as the master, am looking for.

Her flowing sleeves evoked an immortal descending to earth, her wasp waist and delicate feet were alluring yet not frivolous; she resembled the image of Diao Chan from a popular game.

You're the one!

After Yan Xing selected the character prototype for his spellbook's soul core, the book spirit automatically generated a three-dimensional figure.

She rotated slowly in place, her robes fluttering, her figure slender and graceful, beautiful beyond words.

Her voice had also transformed, now a woman's voice with a touch of ethereal quality, "Master, the image you chose for Cui Cui is really beautiful. Cui Cui likes it very much…"

Cui Cui...

Yan Xing fell silent.

Looking at the beauty dancing beside the spellbook, he thought to himself...

Perhaps I didn't give enough thought when naming the book spirit. "Cui Cui," such a simple name, totally mismatched with the beauty before me, huh? But no one told me that I had to design a character's appearance after naming them. Change the name? Wouldn't that be like slapping my own face, denying my own naming ability?

"It's 'Chui Chui,'" Yan Xing corrected his book spirit. "Your pronunciation is inaccurate! The name I gave you is 'Chui Chui,' not 'Cui Cui.' It's 'Chui,' as in *Chun Feng*—the spring wind—blowing through the willows, not 'Cui,' as in a hammer pounding a flatbread. Got it?"

The book spirit stopped spinning, a look of bewilderment on her face.

Did I mishear when I was being named? However, the master has the final say in what the name is; whatever the master calls me, that's my name.

"The spring wind blows through the willows. Chui Chui likes the name Master gave Chui Chui. Chui Chui greets Master…" Chui Chui, having confirmed her new name, gave Yan Xing a curtsy.

Yan Xing secretly wiped away sweat, glad to have finally corrected the naming issue.

Let it be called that, whether it sounds good or not. Anyway, it sounds better than 'Hammer.'

Then Yan Xing asked Chui Chui, "This is our first meeting, and from now on, you'll roll with me. What can you do? What are your functions? Tell me everything, so I can assign you work."

Chui Chui floated in the void of Yan Xing's consciousness. She gazed skyward thoughtfully, counting off her functions on her fingers.

"I can help Master record the Magic he learns.

I can optimize the Magic Master has learned, help increase Magic casting speed, and reduce Magic Power consumption.

I can provide Magic data analysis for Master.

I can analyze Magic cast by others. As long as I gather enough data, I can decipher and master that Magic for Master's use.

My database also has a Magic knowledge storage function, capable of recording all Magic theories Master encounters. When Master requires it, I can provide suggestions regarding Magic.

I can model Magic systems based on Master's commands, analyze magic circles and alchemical formulas, conduct simulations of Magic experiments, and provide reference data for actual experiments.

When Master's Magic Power is strong enough, he can summon me, and I can fight alongside him.

…"

Chui Chui went into detail about her functions.

Hearing this blend of technological jargon and magical terminology, Yan Xing felt a strong sense of incongruity.

But it was clear that Chui Chui was incredibly capable.

More functions were still to be developed.

That notebook was worth every penny. Of course, the spellbook from that old fox was also a crucial factor in Chui Chui's creation. This time, I truly stumbled upon a treasure. What I need to do in the future is endeavor to record as much magical knowledge as possible in Chui Chui's database. Whether I understand it myself is irrelevant; having it there will be useful when needed.

"Chui Chui, I'm appointing you as my personal secretary. From now on, you may actively report anything related to Magic to me. Alright, let's wrap up today's meditation; I have other things to do. You rest well, thoroughly research your functions, and tomorrow we'll begin learning Magic."

Chui Chui saluted Yan Xing and said, "As Master wishes, by your command! Chui Chui will definitely be the most attentive and loyal secretary to Master."

Yan Xing encouraged Chui Chui a few more times, then exited the meditation.

Afterward, he changed into a new set of clothes, ready to go out.

To be honest... my primary goal in coming to Nuta City was to auction off all the Ice Jade Porcelain tableware for God-given gold coins to develop my Eternal Domain. But who could have imagined that upon entering Nuta City, I'd get caught up in this mess? I inadvertently met all the city's top brass. I also became a disciple of the city's Lord, and just like that, I turned into a much sought-after figure in Nuta City. I just wanted to do some small business, make a little money. And that remains the same even now. Who knew what other strange troubles might arise in this city; having money firmly in hand was the only real security.

Yan Xing decided to seek out Eden to settle the auction of the Ice Jade Porcelain tableware.

Yan Xing called Donna in to help him put on his armor.

He had just finished dressing when Miss Hibel charged in, flustered and agitated.

"Hey! When did you get to know my father? Why did he tell me to call you 'Uncle,' and... and even order me to protect you personally?"

Yan Xing was just as bewildered.

By seniority, I'm her junior brother! I should be the one calling her 'Senior Sister'! No matter how you slice it, she shouldn't be calling me 'Uncle'!

However, upon reflection, Yan Xing understood the old fox's intentions.

My current status in Nuta City is that of a third party, which is very convenient for handling certain matters. If it became public knowledge that I am Count Theodore's disciple, I would no longer be a neutral third party but one of the Count's men. Then, whatever I did would lack a neutral stance. In Nuta City, even if everyone knows you're practically joined at the hip with the Lord, your surface stance absolutely cannot be biased. That's why, at the Temple, the Count referred to me as his 'good friend'—to help establish my neutral position.

This "Uncle"... It seems Miss Hibel is stuck calling me that!