The space-bound <> was now flying along the orbit of Ars, rather than in a straight line to Hale.

There was a possibility that there might be a clue in the orbit.

It would be a detour of about a day, but it did not matter. Gathering information is important.

And as it approached the position where something could be found, 60 degrees behind Hale's orbit, L5 in Lagrangian terms, <> slowed down.

December 27.

<

The Magni Reactor has gone haywire.

The Cosmos team in the engine room, which is supposed to be controlling it precisely, also suffered the same phenomenon.

"U......"

The outburst subsides in a few seconds.

With the reliability of the Magi Reactor that Jin had built, it had regained self-control through feedback.

"Yes, what was that?　Is the ship damaged?　Check quickly!

The captain, Cosmos 501, who was stationed on the central bridge, sent out instructions.

Reports soon came in from various departments.

"This is engine room 1. The magni reactor went out of order for a few seconds. It's stable now.

This is Engine Room 2. The Magni Reactor ran out of power for a few seconds. It's stable now.

This is Engine 3. The Magni Reactor ran out of power for a few seconds. It's stable now.

This is auxiliary engine room. The Magni Reactor ran out of power for a few seconds. Part of the maggireactor was damaged. There is no problem with navigation.

Cosmos 501 requested a report from the observation room.

This is observation room 1. No obstructions observed.

This is observation room 2. No obstructions observed.

This is the analysis team. We have measured the concentration of free magical element (ether) in the space, and it is more than 1000 times higher than in normal space. The number is not constant, but it is between 1000 and 1200.

1000 times the concentration of free magic element (ether). It could be called a cloud of free magical element (ether). It seems that has plunged into it.

As a result, the energy generated by the Magi Reactor is increased by a factor of 1000. The feedback was applied and the situation calmed down in a few seconds, but in those few seconds the various magi-machines were overloaded.

* * * * * * * * * *

This situation was immediately reported to Horaijima.

<<1000 times the concentration of free magic element (ether). ...... It is hard to believe that it is spontaneous.

It is a concentration that cannot be considered spontaneous, and is thought to cause various harmful effects.

Reiko was once exposed to 1000 times higher concentration of free magic element (ether) when she confronted who is now .

Reiko was able to save the day, but if she had made a mistake, it could have stopped or been damaged. 1000 times the concentration is such a dangerous level.

What do you think?

Jin also heard the news and came to the control room at 6 in the morning.

<

"A fixed point!"

"I see."

<<>

"Yes. Especially carefully."

* * * *

At the old man's command, <> has slowed down even further.

Make sure you get a good look around.

Copy that.

Copy that.

All departments are responding.

How's the repair status of the damaged part?

The damage is minor, so repairs should be completed in less than two hours.

The is originally a craft, so there is no shortage of materials, and all crew members can use engineering magic.

It just takes time to check her because of her large size.

An hour has passed since the start of the observation. All the damage to the ship has been repaired and the operation checks have been completed. < is as good as new.

The high concentration of free magical element (ether) is working in the right direction.

Two more hours have passed.

"We have detected an object in the orbital plane, 2300 km ahead.

The long awaited report came in. After all this time, the anti-detection warding is set up and <> moves silently in that direction.

In a few minutes, the object reaches a visible distance and <> comes to a relative halt.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"This is a sphere, isn't it?"

It is a smooth sphere in appearance, different from the abandoned relay station which was a hemisphere.

"Is this facility still alive?"

"Let's use <> carefully."

* * *

> activates the peepers.

"The image is a little bad. Have you checked the operation?"

captain Cosmos501 asked his XO Cosmos502.

"Please wait a moment. ...... Ah, I found the cause. It seems that the communication waves are being interfered with or scattered by the too dense free magic element (ether).

"I see. What is the concentration of free magic element (ether) in this area?"

...... is more than 3,000 times higher than in normal space.

"That's a frightening concentration. But there seems to be no doubt that this is the center of the anomaly in the concentration of free magic element (ether).

Thereupon, began to show the inside of the sphere.

The first thing that caught my eye was the warehouses.

The first thing that caught my eye was the warehouses. About half of them are filled with materials.

"This looks like a warehouse too.

Jin of the Horaijima command center muttered to himself.

The Peeper moved further toward the center of the warehouse.

"Is this where the equipment comes from?"

> he said.

Then, the problematic magi-machine was projected on the screen.

"Could this be a ?"

The floor was covered with a layer of dust. From that, it seems that there is gravity and air inside.

Then another magi-machine is shown on the screen.

"This is also a .

<

"Is there a golem for maintenance?"

And then, the screen shows a golem of a different shape. But all of them seemed to have been out of operation for a long time.