After much consideration, Jin decides to secure the satellite Alpha.

Alpha has no air, no water, and no living organisms.

"Still, there may be unknown pathogens or viruses."

The engineering magic <> is applied to irradiate ultraviolet rays.

After that, sterilization is performed using <>.

Thanks to the high concentration of free magic element (ether), the process was very quick.

"Okay, that's enough."

The only thing that can work now is .

If they could get the satellite Alpha close enough to Hale, the destroyer <<<> and the craft <> would be able to help.

"Let the planning begin."

At Jin's direction, <> began to work according to the plan.

First, he determines the center of gravity of <>, and then he determines a straight line passing through the center of gravity and heading in the direction of Hale.

Following this line, a hole is drilled in Alpha, and the hull of the <> is embedded in the hole and secured. Of course, the position of the hole is in the opposite direction from Hale.

This completes the satellite spacecraft with <> as its propulsion system.

Yes, Alpha is not a sphere, but a rocky satellite.

A hole with a diameter of 300 meters was dug in it using the engineering magic and earth magic <.

Some of the earth and rocks found during the digging were examined with and found to be mithril silver ore with a high content of mithril silver.

"This is promising."

Jin instructed that the dug-up rock should be stored properly.

On the satellite Alpha, <> fills in the middle of its massive body, fine-tuning it.

The work is manageable even though it is 300 meters in diameter, since the gravity is low and the <> is used to adjust the weight.

The work was difficult because the crew members, <> 601 to 700, could not work in this highly concentrated free-magic (ether) environment. The work was difficult.

Nevertheless, the necessary work was completed in about three hours.

< are covered with to catch the propulsive force.

"Okay, try it!"

At Jin's command, <> releases some of its thrust.

Even at 300 meters in diameter, is a tiny particle compared to the satellite Alpha. Alpha is 400 kilometers long and 150 kilometers short.

However, the power of <> is tremendous.

It is enough to move the satellite Alpha out of orbit.

However, the initial movement is very small. We plan to start with 0.2G and gradually increase the engine output to 1G while making sure that the surrounding rocks will hold up.

Even with the ultra-powerful , 1G, or about 10 meters per second, is the best they can do.

The high concentration of free ether helps the efficiency of the magi-machine to be good, and we are getting by.

As another aid, have been installed in various parts of Alpha to generate anti-gravity in the direction away from the sun Celan.

However, these devices are disposable and break down due to overload after one hour of use.

Still, after an hour of use, the combined effect of all these actions can accelerate the vehicle to a speed of 36 kilometers per second.

"The first thing we need to do is to get away from the solar Celanese."

<

Even if the direction was a little off, the first priority was to get out of the safe zone.

Three hours passed.

The satellite Alpha has completely left the orbit of Zipert and is moving in the opposite direction of the sun Celan.

It is slightly off in the direction of the zenith (ecliptic north pole), but this can be corrected later.

The speed has exceeded 100 kilometers per second, and <> has temporarily cut off its acceleration.

The reason for this is that there is a lot of cosmic dust in this region of space, which could cause various problems if it collides with the satellite Alpha.

The most important of them are orbit deviation and damage to Alpha.

In particular, damage to Alpha is to be avoided as much as possible.

The higher the speed, the greater the amount of breakage, so we have kept it moderate.

"Still, it will reach the normal free-magic element (ether) concentration in a day and a half.

Jin was relieved that the first stage of the plan had succeeded.

* * * *

"...... wait?"

Jin, who was working on the theme of developing a more effective <, suddenly had an idea.

What about metals that were in an environment with a very high concentration of free magic element (ether)?　...... No, I don't think so. If it was refined in a high environment, yes.

The question is what are the properties of the metal produced from Zipert's satellite Alpha.

"If it is refined in an environment with a high concentration of free magic element (ether), it must have a good affinity with free magic element (ether), right?"

When Jin was a child, he remembers seeing an article on TV or in a magazine about refining metals in weightless space: .......

According to the article, refining in a vacuum increases the purity of the metal because it does not contain oxygen, and it also prevents segregation when alloying metals of different specific gravities... ...... ...should be.

"The metallographic structure might also be homogeneous and fine because it is not affected by gravity."

Using engineering magic, the same effect could be produced, but first of all, Jin thought that the material itself would be of high quality, which was significant.

And if it is easier to contain free magic element (ether) instead of not containing oxygen, it is what we can hope for.

"I'd like to experiment as soon as we get out of the <>.

Jin was looking forward to that time.

* * * *

<, is maintaining a speed of 100 kilometers per second, and is expected to reach the normal free-magic (ether) area in a few hours.

"We will be able to see with our own eyes!"

As for Jin, he can't help but feel excited.

Of course, Jin loves making things, but he also loves materials, especially metal materials.

But this may be because the act of making something with them comes afterwards.

"Father, please do not go to yourself until you have completed a detailed investigation."

"......Yeah, I know."

Jin replies to Reiko's advice with a slight pause.

"The investigation in the area of high free-magic element (ether) concentration is not enough," he said.

His argument is also reasonable, so Jin has no choice but to follow it.

Two and a half hours later, the satellite Alpha finally arrived right in front of Jin and his team.

< and the sailed at a synchronized speed.

In a few minutes, their relative speeds were zero.

< to Alpha to investigate the 551. I'll send them to Alpha to investigate.

"Yes, do it."

Jin immediately approves of <>'s proposal.

Immediately afterwards, the hatch of the <> opens, and the <> golems are on their way to the satellite Alpha.

The satellite Alpha is roughly an ellipse. It is shaped like a rugby ball.

Of course, there is no air, so the surface is rugged due to ultraviolet rays and collisions with cosmic dust.

Fifty < golems descended to the surface and began their investigation.

They investigate not only the surface, but also the interior.

This is because there is no guarantee that spores of dangerous pathogens are not lurking deep within the porous rock.

However, it is not possible to survey the entire surface 100 percent of the time, so we have to take samples at several locations and examine them.

Such a survey takes about four hours.

In the meantime, Jin is waiting impatiently.

For his master's sake, Cosmos 551 sent some ores that had already been investigated to < through a warp gate.

"Oh, that's very thoughtful.

Jin was pleased with this treatment and immediately decided to analyze the ore in the laboratory in <>.