#681 Transmigrated Snow Sculpture

Sensei, the Lifeless King, is fired up.

When it comes to his students, he loses his usual composure and acts like a typical Lifeless King.

To be fair, his basic abilities are dimensions beyond common sense, so it’s undeniable that everything he does is out of the ordinary. 

That’s why when his pupils are involved, it usually ends up with outlandish results.

For example, the recent graduation exam.

He built a pyramid for the exam, so maybe he’ll build the Great Wall of China next?

“But how are you going to make the snow sculptures last forever, Sensei?”

No matter how powerful Sensei is, can he really keep snow from ever melting?

It does sound like he can.

But that’s not the only problem with snow sculptures.

They’re so delicate compared to metal or wood that even the slightest impact could cause them to collapse, not to mention they weather quickly.

I think making snow sculptures last for even a year is already a next-to-impossible task, let alone forever. How is Sensei going to solve that?

“I figured that even if the snow sculpture itself doesn’t last, it’s enough if the hearts and souls of the students who put their heart into it remain.”

“I see...?”

“Snow is something fleeting that will inevitably melt away. To force-stopping that process is boorish. Hence, I will entrust the feelings imbued in the sculpture to something else and transfer them there!”

What a vague statement that was.

Transfer the shape of the sculpture to something else?

Like taking a photo?

That’s the ultimate tool for preserving memories, isn’t it?

It was the standard back in my world, and everyone took photos of everything. 

Surely, in the original Snow Festivals, taking photographs might alleviate the psychological burden of destroying the snow sculptures. But it’s well-understood that there are no cameras or pictures in this world.

In that case, how will Sensei preserve these memories for the future?

“That’s where the cooperation of others comes in. First, we’ll call on her!”

“Hello, we meet again!”

The individual who said that was...

...Oh, it’s her.

The Royal Honey Queen Bee.

Just before winter started this year, we met a new character brought by Bearmon as a souvenir substitute.

I thought of making hachinoko out of her, but then I realized I couldn’t cook it with adult bees, so I discarded the idea.

By the way, the queen bee has more of a human-like figure instead of a bee’s.

Half-human and half-bee, she looks like she could be in a game fighting against vampires and succubi.

Being a queen bee, she is naturally a gorgeous lady.

“It was during the peak of winter; have you been doing well since?”

“Of course! Your place is comfortable to live in and has the most food, it’s wonderful! Being driven out of my previous hive by that bear is lucky for me now!”

That’s good to hear.

It doesn’t really matter to me either way, though.

“That mountain the dragon rules has areas where flowers bloom even in winter, so it’s a lifesaver! And since you’ve taken good care of me, I thought it was time to repay the favor and come here!”

“We don’t need your honey, you know?”

After all, I have my trusty maple syrup!!!

“It’s okay! We Royal Honeybees have other useful things besides honey, remember?!”

Other useful things?

If I recall...!

“I take pride in that, so I accepted the Lifeless King’s request! ...I mean, who can say no to the request of an undead king?! I value my life too!”  

Er...

You have my sympathy there.

“...So, with her help, we will attempt to permanently preserve the monument created with the students’ heartfelt feelings.”

Oh, Sensei.

Right, that was the plan.

But how are we going to use bees to preserve it?

“First, we will use magic to freeze time on the snow sculpture. Even if we hit or burn it, it won’t shatter.”

Isn’t that more than good enough already?

“While time is frozen, we will quickly do the finishing touches! Queen Bee!”

“Understood! Go forth, my servants!”

At the queen bee’s command, countless worker bees swarm out.

Where did they all come from?!

By the way, the worker bees look just like regular bees.

They have a head, chest, and abdomen divided into three sections, six legs, wings, and antennae attached to them.

The queen bee is humanoid, but the worker bee is in a complete insect form.

Their class difference is showing.

Those worker bees fly out by the thousands and swarm around the snow statue. 

Eek! The snow statue is covered in countless bees...A hot defensive bee ball?!

After some time, the bees move away, and...!

“Waaa!!!”

The snow statue is covered in a gooey substance!

“This is beeswax.”

“Beeswax?!”

Oh, I see. It’s the wax secreted by bees to build their hives!

And then, when it completely covers the snow statue...

“Wait for it to harden, and then make a cut.”

Sensei smoothly slid a finger over the hardened wax that covered the snow statue. 

With just that, a clean-cut line was created as if he had used a vibroblade.

“Did you know that the beeswax we Royal Honeybees secrete is as hard as steel when it solidifies?”

Really?

As I thought, monsters are incredible.

Well, Sensei who easily cut it is even more impressive.

“And then, when you open it up from the cut...”

Ooh!

Inside is a depression that clearly resembles the shape of the snow statue!

It looks just like a mold. Or rather, it is a mold.

“Apply beeswax to the cross-section again and then make a small hole. That way, it connects to the hollow inside that is the mold of the snow statue.”

Wait, is that...?

I think understand what Sensei is trying to do.

Isn’t this like, you know?

Manufacturing a plastic model?

First, you create a mold and pour melted plastic into the carved depression. 

And when it cools, the plastic model is complete! Like that...?

By doing this, they are transferring the shape using a durable material that is not easily melted or destroyed, unlike snow. 

Is this Sensei’s method of permanently preserving memories?!

Wax is a suitable material for molding because it has a low melting point and can quickly melt and solidify.

Since it is made from the monster bees’ secretion, it seems much harder than imagined.

“But...what are you going to do from here, Sensei!”

Making a mold using beeswax is good, but it doesn’t end there.

It’s just a process.

Now they need to pour something into the mold and create a statue that looks just like the snow sculpture. Only then can we say that we have completed the “transfer of memories.”

But what material is Sensei going to use?

Considering the manufacturing process, it would need to be something that transforms from a liquid to a solid state. After all, it must be poured in.

Once cooled and solidified, it should not easily melt again, and it must be a sturdy substance that does not break or chip.

At the very least, sturdier than snow.

What kind of material will Sensei pour into this mold?

“Mana metal.”

“I knew ittttttttttt!”

The versatile metal that would never let you down!

It’s metal, so it can be liquified. Besides, mana metal comes from Sensei’s dungeon, so it’s not strange for him to have it!!!

“I’ll melt it with my magic... Ultimate Inferno!”

Waaaaaaaah!

The mana metal instantly melted into a viscous stateeee!

As expected of Sensei, he easily melted the mana metal!

“Isn’t mana metal the hardest metal in this world? How many billions of degrees is its melting point?!”

“Well, mana metal is the solidified version of the ‘energy’ that circulates the world. It’s quite adaptable, as it resonates with the spirit.”

“What?!”

“That’s why it’s easy to cut or melt when processing it. However, once it’s given a role as a tool, it won’t break or wear down.”

Is that so...

No wonder it’s said to be the world’s strongest metal, yet it would also easily melt when placed in a furnace!

If you treat such mana metal like any other metal, it will obediently turn into a bronze statue.

Oh, but since it’s made of mana metal, it should be called a mana metal statue, huh.

Anyway, they pour the molten mana metal into the beeswax mold with holes made...

...Wow, the Royal Honeybee’s beeswax is amazing; it doesn’t lose to the high temperature of molten metal at all...!

...After estimating the time when it should have cooled and solidified...

“Remove the mold!”

At Sensei’s command, the Royal Honeybee’s beeswax disappears without a trace.

As usual, this person is the most amazing.

And what came out from inside is...!

A statue that looks exactly like the snow sculpture, now transformed into a mana metal statue.

“The Beastly Zeus statue?!”

Why?!

Why this one, of all things?!

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the vampire and succubi remark is most likely a MUGEN reference, they had a character named q-bee