"Excellent. You say Jin. Your mind waves have sufficient frequency and strength to manipulate the free magical element (ether).

The 700672 squinted and said happily.

"In other words, all of your automata have the same ability."

Facing Jin's doubtful face, No. 700672 smiles and says to him as if admonishing him.

"No matter what kind of creature it is, the strength of the mental wave is not enough to manipulate free magic element (ether) at a distance. That's why we use <. ......"

For some reason, No. 700672 was at a loss for words. Jin mentioned an idea that suddenly popped into his head.

"......If <> exists in the brains of certain organisms?"

The words of the 700672 cannot hide his surprise.

"<> is you, isn't it? ...... Yes, the <> is obtained by collecting and generating the brains of certain creatures. All those who can handle magic have it, but ......"

"......I'm sure it's only a small amount, even if it's collected from living creatures."

The 700672 is even more surprised by Jin's words.

"That's right. At the very least, it would take a million brains to collect it from the organisms on this planet.

Jin has no intention of doing or admitting to such an outrage.

"...... organisms on this planet?"

Then Jin realized the meaning behind the words of 700672.

"You guess right. Yes, my artificial brain uses a lot of that ."

And for <," he said, and the 700672 looked at Jin with probing eyes.

"...... What are you going to do?　If you take out my brain, you can easily get the and maybe even prevent that ?"

Neige moved silently in front of Jin and the others.

To remove the brain of No. 700672 would mean to kill it.

But Jin patted Neige lightly on the head as she stared at him,

I am not such a pathetic person. As a Magecraft Meister, I will do something about it.

He laughed.

No. 700672 looked at Jin and laughed without uttering a sound.

"You are really funny. ......Neige, don't worry. They are not going to do anything to me.

Neige's nerves were broken when she heard that.

"......You may have noticed that the <> may have taken the <> from the other eleven bodies and used it."

Jin's face turned grim. We don't know how many times the <> has been triggered in the past, so we don't know how many more times it can be triggered.

Worst case scenario is that it can be used 9 more times.

"I would rather not have it happen again than think about how many more times ...... it will happen."

He liked the answer of 700672.

"That's good to hear. If you're that kind of a guy, maybe I can talk to you."

?

"......go and other homunculus are vulnerable to low temperatures. They become inactive at temperatures below the freezing point."

"......"

Jin tilted his head at this unexpected information.

"What's wrong, Jin?"

"......, I was wondering if that information was true or false."

"What?"

"...... There must be a good reason why they are based in this high latitude region. The abundance of free magic element (ether) is one of them. On the other hand, if they are vulnerable to low temperatures, it would not be surprising if they move further south. They could at least gather free magical element (ether).

Hearing Jin's explanation, No. 700672 nodded his head in agreement.

"That's right. I am sorry for testing you. I know now that you have no intention of harming me at all.

You were testing me?

I apologize for that. But now I know that I can trust you.

Then, 700672 ordered Neige to bring something. It was a small box. It was made of metal and about the size of a business card case.

"This is for you."

"What is it?"

Jin asked as he took the box from Neige.

"It is a <>. The last one I have.

"What?　Such a valuable thing. ......"

But No. 700672 looked Jin in the eye and said.

"No, it should have been up to me to take over from my masters to deal with <>. It is only natural that I entrust it to you."

Jin looked at the box he had received, and then he expressed his gratitude in a quiet voice.

"I will use it gratefully."

Nodding his head, No. 700672 explained how to use it.

"If you want to use it in a magi-machine instead of a living body, you need to add it to a light-attribute magi-crystal. Can you do that?"

"If it is <> or <>..."

"Well, I have never heard of it, but if you say it can be done, then yes. Add at a ratio of 1 for every 100 magi crystals."

In this way, we will be able to generate the optimal magic wave for free magic element (ether) interference.

"You already know that. Magi crystals of all the attributes are indeed versatile. But if you use magic of each attribute, it is more efficient to use Magi Crystals of the same attribute.

"I understand."

Jin thought of speakers.

Full-range speakers certainly have many advantages. However, there is a limit to the volume. In magic terms, the limit of strength is low.

In Reiko's case, however, the limit is still above the humanly possible level.

Returning to speakers, there is a method of having a tweeter for high sound and a woofer for low sound, and such a speaker system is called a multi-way system.

Jin's knowledge of audio is not deep enough to discuss sound quality.

However, in the case of magic, it is much simpler.

Fire magic should be generated by fire-attribute magi crystals, and water magic by water-attribute magi crystals.

"You seem to understand. Now for the last part, it is up to you whether you can understand it or not.

With that, No. 700672 began a more advanced explanation.

"I mean, what is the medium through which mental and magical waves are transmitted.

Jin listened in silence.

"My masters have not fully understood it, but it seems that there is a particle even smaller than the free magical element (ether), and they thought that it is transmitted."

"...... lower (under)free-magic element (ether), something like that."

"Oh, something like that. You are very quick to understand.

If we compare the lower free magical element (ether) to air molecules, the free magical element (ether) is like a balloon. The flow of air molecules, i.e. wind, can move a balloon.

The ability to manipulate free magic element (ether) by mental waves is a similar relationship.

Magic power is also transmitted through the lower free magical element (ether). In other words, we can deal with all kinds of magic if we can do something about the lower free magic element (ether). Theoretically.

Do you understand?

Yes, at least I see the way.

"Well..."

"Now we are considering several measures to counter the <>. Among them, we were concerned that it might shift and escape, but now we have a good idea of how to deal with it.

No. 700672 nodded.

"Hmmm...blocking the transfer. Of course, you know about the transfer marker, don't you?　We can radiate the same magic power as the transfer marker.

Based on his previous theories, Jin was confident that he could create the desired magic wave.

"Yes, I think so. You mean to make it impossible to tell which signal is coming from the transfer marker?"

"That's right. That's right. You're really good. From the looks of it, you really might be able to do something about < ......."

"That's what I've been trying to do from the beginning."

700672's face contorted slightly. He laughed.

"You remind me of my masters. The masters when they were full of energy and drive.

Squinting slightly, 700672 seemed to be staring somewhere far away, not here.

"Thank you for everything."

Jin thanked him and told him it was time for him to leave. There were many more questions he wanted to ask, but time was of the essence now. Jin had a lot of work to do at the institute.

Jin turned on his heel and was about to leave the room when a voice called out to him from 700672.

"......I'm sorry, but could you please come over here a little more?"

700672 said in a slightly different, stiffer voice.

"Yes, sir?"

Jin walks over to the bed where 700672 is lying.

"......"

The 700672 stared at Jin silently.

"?"

700672 reached out his right hand and took Jin's hand.

"Oh, uh?"

But he immediately let go of his hand and 700672 lay down on the bed.

"...... sorry for stopping you. Jin-dono, about the <>, I'm sorry to impose on you to clean up the mess, but please take care of it.

I will.

...... will you come again?

Yeah, when this whole mess is over.

I look forward to it. It's been a pleasure talking with you.

Good bye.

Jin then left the room.

The rest of the 700672 lay on their sides, staring at the ceiling ......, or rather, at the sky, which should have been beyond it. He was staring at the sky that was supposed to be beyond.

"...... father?"

A white girl, Neige, saw her father and called out to him in concern.

"......Neige, for a moment I felt like I was back in the old days."

"What do you mean, father?"

"......That young man, Jin, reminds me of our former masters. He's not the same in appearance or build.

And then he squints nostalgically again at No. 700672.

"I was given the knowledge by the master who made me, and I passed it on to his children and grandchildren. He reminded me of those days, he said.

And the 700672 closed its eyes again. Neige gazed at her creator with sad eyes.