Single-Liner Magic and Multi-Liner Magic

<Largo>

“Star Voice Notary?”

Lala says a term I recognize from school, although I never quite understood it.

“That’s right. It’s an archive of man-made magic—known as multi-liner magic, or macro magic—where such spells are recorded. It’s said there are only five of these in the entire world.”

I recall learning about single-liner magic and multi-liner magic in school.

“Single-liner magic refers to spells that have existed naturally in the world from the start, while multi-liner magic is what humans create by combining single-liner spells to form new effects—also known as macro magic. That’s right, isn’t it?”

“Absolutely correct.”

Lala praises me, and Tenuto cuts in.

“Isn’t Star Voice Notary in a place normal people can’t access? I heard it’s in some classified location called the ‘Magical Private Network.’ Don’t tell me…”

“Karma Points.”

Another term I’ve heard before crops up.

“Knew it,” Tenuto says, nodding, though I still have no idea what they’re talking about.

“It’s the point-based service system managed by Edge Shadow Co. Presumably, it’s all recorded and administered in the smallest Star Voice Notary they possess. If we can somehow infiltrate their network, we can transform it into a new magic. In other words, deploy it.”

They’re talking a mile a minute, and I can barely follow. So many unfamiliar words keep popping up. Tenuto launches into an enthusiastic explanation:

“‘Deploy’ is the act of making the magic recorded in a Star Voice Notary available worldwide. Pull, fetch, commit, push, and deploy. Through these five stages, we can override evil multi-liner magic with good multi-liner magic—rewrite it!”

Now I’m starting to understand.

“So basically, this evil organization that’s been controlling everyone for so long through Karma Points is too big to destroy outright. Instead, you’re planning to replace the algorithm that calculates those points—the organization’s source of power—from something harmful into something harmless.”

“You’ve got it. Once the fundamental standard by which people’s actions are judged changes, Edge Holding Company, which has been up to no good for ages, will implode.”

“Still, it’s hard to imagine it going that smoothly…”

Tenuto wags a finger at my doubt.

“Well, I don’t think we can just stroll into the enemy base so easily, but if an opportunity does arise, letting it slip by would be foolish. The angel of chance only descends upon those who remain prepared.”

So cool. Uh-oh, not good. I can feel that glow returning. I have to hold it in.

Tenuto really is gallant. So cool and kind, and yet…something about him feels incomplete, like a puzzle missing its final piece. I’m not sure what it is, but there’s a hint of mystery there.

Still, Lala and Tenuto really work well together—almost like lovers. Crack. Something snaps in my mind. Am I…jealous? A guy, jealous of a man and a woman being close? That’s weird! Meooow! That’s impossible! If this keeps up, I’ll lose my sense of manhood! I’m gonna glow!

No, stop. This is a serious discussion. There’s no time for stray thoughts.

“So, what exactly do we need to prepare?”

At my question, Lala nods with bright eyes.

Heh. Looks like I hit the mark with that question, right on the heart of the matter.

“We need to chant five signal chords.”

“Signal magic?”

I’m pretty sure I never learned about that in school.

“The ‘push signal.’ Invented in 1950 in an alternate-universe America at Bell Labs, it’s the communication system used by landline phones ever since. By sending specific chord combinations—often written as ‘pi,’ ‘po,’ ‘pa,’ etc.—over a telephone line, you can transmit a phone number.”

“And that’s related to the Star Voice Notary?”

“It is.”

With that, Lala pulls out a sheet of music, which lists five short chord pieces—each consisting of a single measure made up of three quarter notes in different octaves.

Resonance of the Heart (pull)

Observation of Thought (fetch)

Chant of Record (commit)

Transfer of Release (push)

Ritual of Liberation (deploy)

“What’s this?”

“If the three of us—my alto voice, Forlun’s soprano, and Tenuto’s tenor—chant these chords simultaneously in front of the Star Voice Notary, the push signal will be transmitted, allowing the multi-liner magic to be rewritten.”

“All it takes is these simple chords?”

“Heh-heh. Three people performing in perfect pitch and rhythm is trickier than you’d expect.”

So we’ll need both individual practice and ensemble work. Our days of training are just beginning.

On this alternate Earth, the relationship between single-liner magic and multi-liner magic is often compared to Western medicine and Eastern medicine.

A good example is found in cold remedies. Western medicine uses antihistamines, extracted as a highly purified compound from fermented stevia leaves via an ethanol solution. Eastern medicine, on the other hand, might use something like kakkontō, which mixes seven different medicinal ingredients including ginger to warm the body and ephedra for bronchodilation. Whether to pursue purity or the elegance of a combined formula is a choice found not only in science but also in art and magic alike.