“And with that, I believe you all understand the concept.”
Jin had Reiko lower her output back to its normal state.
“Reiko’s own experiences support this theory,” he added.
“Yes. While I was searching for you when you were missing, Father, I traveled to a region far to the north. The concentration of free ether was so dense there that my magic became more than three times its usual strength.”
Jin concluded the explanation by summarizing his hypothesis: the phenomenon occurred not because the amount of mana changed, but because there was simply more free ether available for the same amount of mana to manipulate.
“I see. That’s just like you, Jin-kun,” Vee said, impressed.
“I’m in awe of Jin-nii’s insight,” Elsa added.
“It’s never boring when you’re around, Jin-kun,” Saki chimed in with a grin.
Everyone was filled with admiration. Jin scratched the back of his head, looking a bit sheepish.
“W-well, anyway, based on this, I’m going to try making a disruptor.”
“Un. I’ll help,” Elsa offered.
“We’ll just watch from the sidelines, Mister Magi Craft Meister,” Vee said.
＊ ＊ ＊
Because he could utilize the magi-sequences already established for ether converters, the prototype was completed in a relatively short time.
“...I honestly want to ask if you’re actually finished already,” Vee said, her voice tinged with exasperation.
“I know how you feel, Vee, but that’s just how Jin-kun is,” Saki replied.
Since it was still light outside, they decided to conduct the experiment in the plaza in front of the laboratory. The prototype was a simple magi-crystal inscribed with a magi-formula. Jin spoke the keyword.
“Wake up.”
The effective range was intended to be a radius of about ten meters centered on Jin.
“...Hmm, I feel a strange sense of discomfort when I get close to Jin-kun,” Saki noted. “Is this because of the lack of free ether?”
“We should test it. ‘Wind Bullet’... It’s not working...”
Standing beside Jin, Elsa tried to fire a Wind Bullet into the sky, but the magic failed to manifest.
“It’s a success!...Elsa, sorry, but could you call Edgar over?”
“Un. Edgar, come here.”
Following Elsa’s call, Edgar approached the group, but his movements suddenly became sluggish and jerky.
“...Free ether... deficiency... mal... func... tion...”
“Stand Still.”
Jin hurried to deactivate the prototype disruptor. Immediately, Edgar’s movements returned to their normal, fluid state.
“Thanks, Elsa. This confirms it’s effective against automata as well. Which means most magic tools will be rendered useless within its range.”
“Reiko-chan is still moving. Why?” Elsa asked.
Reiko stood behind Jin with a perfectly composed expression.
“Ah, that’s because the free ether claimed by this disruptor is placed under the command of my mana,” Jin explained.
Reiko, the other golems, and even Laojun all shared the same type of mana as Jin—effectively, they were on the same frequency.
“So, even when the disruptor is active, it doesn't affect anything I’ve created.”
This was a massive advantage. It meant he could neutralize an opponent’s magic and magic tools while his own creations remained fully functional.
“Now for the practical applications. A spherical field centered on the device is the baseline, but I should also make it directional and allow the range to be adjustable.”
“Jin-nii, your face is relaxing,” Elsa remarked.
“Kufu, Jin really does love his engineering, doesn’t he?” Saki added, looking at him with an amused smile.
“However, ‘disruptor’ doesn't seem like quite the right name for it,” Toa Eschenbach pointed out.
“Ah.”
“True.”
“You’re right, Father,” Saki agreed. It wasn't actually disrupting or confusing anything; it was an outright suppression.
“...Hmm, in that case, let’s call it a free ether interference device—an ‘ether jammer.’”
“Yes, that fits its function perfectly,” Toa said.
Thus, the device was officially named the ether jammer.
Jin completed the design that same day and immediately moved into mass production. The units were equipped first on Reiko and Laozi, then the Secret Mobile Unit, and finally the Quinta. Eventually, the plan was to install one in every golem on Hourai Island.
“We shall prioritize deployment to Nidou Castle and Kaina Village first,” Laojun declared, prioritizing those locations even over the Quinta’s intelligence units.
“Now, we just need to figure out how to defend against it.”
Someone once said that if you create a weapon, you must also consider its countermeasures.
“Could everyone give that some thought?”
Jin hadn’t been able to get that far yet, given the time constraints.
＊ ＊ ＊
Early the next morning, equipped with the new gear, Jin and Reiko traveled to Nidou Castle.
“Butler, what is the situation?” Jin asked Butler B, whom he happened to encounter.
“Yes, Master. It seems the lady regained consciousness once, but only for a brief moment before falling under again. I have not yet checked her condition this morning.”
Jin headed for the guest room where Sion and the others were staying.
“Sion, it’s Jin. May I come in?” he called out at the door.
“Come in,” Sion’s voice replied from within.
“Pardon me.”
Jin entered the room, his hand instinctively touching the ether jammer in his pocket just in case.
“How is she?”
“Much better, I think. She hasn't woken up yet, but her breathing is steady and her color has returned.”
“I see. That’s a relief.”
As they spoke, Istalis’s mouth twitched.
“My Lady! Lady Istalis is waking!” Lucas exclaimed.
Sion immediately turned to her sister. “Sister! Sister!”
“...Si... on...?”
The closed eyelids slowly fluttered open. Istalis’s eyes were the same clear, pale light blue as Sion’s.
“It’s me! Sister! Hang in there!”
Jin gently patted the shoulder of the distraught Sion and handed her a spout cup filled with Persica juice.
“A-Ah, right! Sister, drink this!”
When the spout was held to Istalis’s lips, she began to drink, albeit slowly.
“It’s delicious...”
After finishing the cup, Istalis seemed significantly more alert.
“Sion... is it really you?”
“Yes, Sister, it’s me! Netros is here too. You’re safe now!”
“Safe? Safe...? Ah!...I... that’s right, I was... cap... tured...”
Istalis’s face began to contort with sudden, agonizing realization.
“Ah... ah... n-no... NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!”
Istalis began to rake her nails across her own face with both hands. In an instant, angry red gashes tore across her cheeks.
“Sister! Sister, stop!”
Her body was wracked with convulsive tremors that Sion couldn't suppress.
“This is bad!”
Hyperventilation set in; Istalis began wheezing for air, her throat making a strained, whistling sound, yet she continued to claw at her own skin in a blind panic.
“Reiko!”
“Yes....‘Paralyze.’”
Unable to let the self-harm continue, Jin gave the order. Reiko used the spell to force Istalis into an unconscious state.
“Sister...”
Istalis lay still, her face smeared with blood.
Jin ordered Butler B to bring clean water and cloth, then carefully wiped her face. He followed this with Sterilization and Cure. It was the most powerful healing magic he could muster, and it proved sufficient.
As Istalis lay there with her wounds closed and her face cleaned, Sion stared at her sister and whispered, “Sister... what on earth did they do to you?”
“Please... do not ask her that,” Netros said somberly, having woken up without anyone noticing.