Novel Full Chapter 709
Chapter 709 21-20 Reunion, Teaching, and Gifts
“Something you wish to show—me? What is it?”
At Jin’s question, No. 700672 smiled.
“Do not be so flustered. Could you introduce the lady accompanying you?”
Jin scratched his head.
“…This is Elsa. She is my fiancée.”
No. 700672’s gaze slowly traveled from Elsa’s head to her toes—yet his look was never lecherous.
“Ah, so the one you called a talented disciple, an excellent healer, and an important family member must be Lady Elsa?”
“B-Bro?” Elsa stammered in surprise, caught off guard by his words.
“Yes. Your ‘magical-energy overload’ has been healed. Your mana circulation is in perfect order.”
“Yes. I came in part to express my thanks for that.”
“…Thank you.”
Jin and Elsa bowed to No. 700672.
“There is no need for thanks. You have done much for us, Lord Jin. Restoring my ability to walk was one of them.”
As 700672 spoke, Neige stood at his side, smiling.
“Oh—and this is Edgar. He’s the first automaton Lady Elsa ever built.”
“Hoho, to create an automaton of this caliber on her first attempt…marvelous.”
“Th-That is because, Bi-Bro’s instruction was very good.”
Elsa blushed. But No. 700672’s smile never wavered.
“No, it is not merely instruction. By not cutting corners and applying such fine craftsmanship, Lady Elsa’s talent shines forth.”
Meanwhile, Reiko and Neige had fallen into an animated conversation: Neige talking, Reiko nodding.
“My father has become so energetic since then! He can walk now! And he pats my head all the time! Just the other day, he even made me clothes!”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Reiko replied as Neige chattered on.
***
Leaving the pair happily talking, Jin turned back to 700672 to explain their true purpose for visiting.
“I am indeed curious about what you wish to show. But primarily, we came to ask you about free magical-essence Ether.”
“Ah, free magical-essence Ether. What do you wish to know?”
Jin detailed his concern over potential energy depletion.
“Yes, in the world I came from, energy shortages were a serious problem. I fear the same might happen with free magical-essence Ether, so this cannot be left unattended.”
“Very well. I shall teach you what I know.”
700672 gestured for Jin and Elsa to step up to the table. Reiko and Neige, deep in their own exchange, were left to talk without interruption.
The tabletop itself functioned like a Magic Projection Window—as 700672 pointed, geometric shapes appeared on its surface.
There were two circles: one large, one small.
“First, we must consider where free magical-essence Ether is born. It is here.”
700672 pointed to the large circle.
“…The sun, I presume?”
“Indeed. Free magical-essence Ether is generated in the sun’s core reactions, together with light, heat, and various electromagnetic waves.”
At those words, one of Jin’s worries all but vanished.
“Then it follows—”
“Yes. We need not fear depletion. Only if the sun itself were to vanish would free magical-essence Ether cease to be produced—but that would mean the end of the solar system, not merely an exhaustion of resources.”
“Several hundred million years, at least,” Jin breathed, relieved.
“Yes. Our masters once consumed vast quantities of free magical-essence Ether, yet we saw no hint of it running dry.”
Jin let out a quiet sigh of gratitude.
“Now, the next point.”
700672 pointed to the smaller circle.
“The large circle represents the sun, and this small one is our planet, Ars. Ether produced by the sun disperses through space alongside light and heat. A portion of it arrives here on Ars.”
Jin silently nodded.
“Because of our planet’s internal structure, its constituent elements, and its rotation, Ether is drawn toward the North Pole and driven away from the South Pole.”
“I see now,” Elsa said.
“Ether drawn in at the North Pole undergoes compression within the planet, leading to the formation of magic crystals—magikrystals, as we hypothesize.”
Though 700672 could not yet confirm it, he wore a somewhat disappointed expression.
“I understand,” Jin said. “This also explains why the South Pole lacks free magical-essence Ether.”
“Indeed, though this remains a hypothesis subject to error.”
But for Jin, knowing the origin of Ether—enough to quell his immediate concern—was all he needed.
“So, to summarize: free magical-essence Ether is created in the sun, drawn to our planet, and saturates our surroundings.”
“Correct. There is no doubt the sun is the source.”
Those words completely dispelled Jin’s anxiety.
“Bi-Bro, that is wonderful news.” Elsa exhaled in relief.
“Even if only to learn that, it was worthwhile coming here,” Jin said, bowing slightly in gratitude.
“I’m glad I could help,” 700672 replied, then began the explanation of what he wished to show.
“You may recall, when you once defeated the ‘Dekisokonai,’ I mentioned a certain ‘transfer device.’ At that time, I remember you did not possess one, correct?”
This “transfer device” uses pre‐placed markers—beacons that allow objects to be sent or retrieved at those specific points.
Jin’s own teleportation device could send matter to arbitrary locations without markers, but it could not recall them.
“So I have assembled the latest model. Please feel free to analyze and adapt it as you wish.”
Note the careful phrasing: not “I want you to use it,” but “Please analyze it…”—700672 understood Jin very well.
“Thank you. I shall gratefully make use of it.”
Jin accepted the device, then offered his own gift.
“Though belated, I brought this for you.”
When 700672 saw the bottle of Persica Juice, his face lit up.
“Ah—how kind of you. We do not require food, but this is quite helpful. Drinking it enhances my performance for days.”
Because its origin was plant-based, 700672 could not synthesize it himself.
He uncorked the bottle and drained it in one go.
“…Hmm. Truly effective. Much appreciated.”
After a moment’s pause, 700672 resumed speaking with Jin.
“My ideal would have been a device capable of transferring a living being to any location—what you might call a ‘warp drive.’ But even we failed to develop such a technology.”
“Oh—really? I long to build one myself.”
Teleporting one’s own body—achieving warp—is the dream of space travel. If that were possible, interstellar transport would be within reach.
“Indeed. When our masters traveled from Heir to Ars over the course of years, they strove ceaselessly to develop such a device…but to no avail.”
A trace of sorrow flickered across 700672’s face.
“Even our masters grown faint with age could not realize it.”
Hearing that, Jin felt a pang of disappointment: warp technology, at least as a direct extension of teleportation, was apparently impossible.