Inside the Capricorn 1, now stationary before the barrier.
"A barrier? Do you know its properties?"
"Yes. It's a detection barrier. If we cross it, an alarm will likely be triggered for the user."
They were approximately two kilometers from their destination.
"If we proceed any further, we’ll be spotted," Anne noted.
"What do we do then?"
"We simply cross it in a way that doesn't trigger the barrier," Anne said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"But how..."
"It’s simple. While the barrier makes contact with the ground, it doesn't extend beneath it. We only need to dig a tunnel and come out on the other side."
"I... I see..."
Generally speaking, most barriers shared this characteristic. If the ground was gouged out by an attack, the barrier would instantaneously expand to cover the gap, but they rarely extended deep into the earth.
"That being said, digging a hole large enough for the Capricorn 1 isn't realistic," Anne continued, laying out a precise plan in her role as the team's strategist. "Sister Reiko and I will go. Additionally, I would like one of the demons to accompany us."
"Then I shall go."
Alectas was the one to volunteer. He was a direct victim of the Needles and was intimately familiar with the circumstances. All-Creation and the others raised no objections.
Jin, operating his Body Double, remained in the Capricorn 1 to provide rear support.
It took about thirty minutes to complete the tunnel leading to the other side. They had proceeded as quietly as possible, moving slowly to avoid being detected through sound or vibration.
"Well then, we're off."
"Be careful out there."
"We will."
"Alectas-san, please take care."
"May this be the end of the chaos."
With those final words, the three disappeared into the tunnel. Reiko carried Touka, while Anne gripped her vibration sword.
Now, all they could do was wait.
＊ ＊ ＊
"I see. So that’s what's happening."
"Yes, My Lord. The level of technology possessed by the Origin Clan is an unknown variable. I called for you because I believed we should exercise the utmost caution."
While the group had been traveling toward the Land of Beginnings, Laojun had summoned Jin from his workshop. He sensed that the climax of the expedition was drawing near.
It was an irony of technology that Jin could obtain more detailed information here on Hourai Island, thousands of miles away, than the members actually inside the Capricorn 1.
"Reiko, Anne, and the demon Alectas, huh..."
On the table before Jin sat the Needles that had been sent over via the Warp Gate.
"To think they packed such a diabolical function into something this small."
Almost all the mana required for their operation was drawn from the host—the victim’s own body. Now that they had been removed, the supply of mana had ceased. Jin imagined the devices were likely registering the hosts as deceased.
All that remained were the faint connections of the mana lines.
"It’s a blessing that these Needles can't transmit visual data."
Muttering to himself, Jin turned his attention to the visual feed being transmitted directly from Reiko's eyes.
＊ ＊ ＊
A frozen landscape stretched out before them. In this region of perennial snow, the average summer temperature hovered around one degree Celsius.
The precision of the magic detection functions built into Reiko and Anne was slightly lower than the dedicated magi-detector installed on the Capricorn 1. To compensate, they moved in a zigzag pattern, constantly re-verifying the coordinates of their destination as they advanced.
They maintained a Hide barrier around themselves and Alectas. Since Hide couldn't provide optical concealment, they wore white cloth over their gear like ponchos to act as camouflage.
"...About 500 meters to go."
There was nothing but a white, undulating plain in the direction they were heading.
"It must be underground," Anne surmised.
Given the harsh climate, it was a logical conclusion.
"Let's proceed with even more caution."
400 meters, 300 meters, 200 meters...
"Stop," Reiko said, roughly 150 meters from their target. "I believe there is a second barrier."
She tossed a shard of ice from the ground; it bounced off seemingly empty air.
"A physical defense."
It was likely a type of solid barrier. If it were a magic barrier, mana wouldn't be able to pass through it at all.
"How do we get past this one? Dig again?"
"Yes. Since it's just snow and ice here, it won't take long."
At Anne's suggestion, they began digging. In reality, Anne did almost all the work herself. Her reinforced physical abilities were certainly not just for show.
After tunneling about ten meters beneath the snow, the group finally approached the heart of the area.
"About 100 meters left."
Before them lay a gentle swell in the snow-covered plain. They wondered what was hidden beneath the surface.
"Metal?"
Reiko's boots felt a sensation distinct from rock. She knelt and cleared away the snow, revealing a silver-gray surface.
"Mithril?...No, it's an unknown metal."
Reiko considered using magic to analyze it, but she held back, fearing it might tip off the enemy.
"We’re definitely close," Anne said.
Alectas tensed at her words.
"If this is the Land of Beginnings and the Origin Clan lives underground, there has to be an entrance." Anne looked around.
"But Lady Anne, this area is vast. How are we supposed to find a single entrance?" Alectas asked, his face clouded with worry. Anne, however, remained perfectly composed.
"Oneesama, please scan the area with your temperature sensing. Any spot with a higher temperature will be our primary suspect."
"Understood."
Reiko’s eyes were equipped with various advanced functions, including a thermograph. She could see the temperature distribution of her surroundings as a color-coded map.
After scanning the area for about a minute, Reiko concluded there was no change.
"Let's move a bit further."
They moved another 50 meters toward the center of the destination, and Reiko performed the scan again.
"...I see two spots with elevated temperatures."
"Let's check them out."
They started with the closest one.
"...Ah, this is just a patch of vegetation."
The spot was a cluster of lichen-like plants that were highly resistant to the cold.
"Let's check the other one."
This spot was in the middle of a perfectly flat snowfield, but there was something unnatural about it.
"It's a perfect circle, isn't it, Oneesama?"
"Yes. The temperature is higher in a circular pattern. It's about two degrees warmer than the surrounding area."
Alectas couldn't keep up with the conversation between the two.
"Perhaps there's a hatch here?"
"The probability is high. Let's clear the snow."
Reiko and Anne began clearing the area together. Alectas hurriedly tried to help, but Reiko cut him off.
"You're in the way. Just stay still."
Three minutes later.
"...It’s a hatch, without a doubt."
A circular metal hatch, roughly two meters in diameter, sat before them.
"Can you find the opening mechanism?"
"I believe so."
Reiko found a square section beside the hatch. Prying it open with her finger, she revealed a lever inside.
"Moving this lever will likely open the hatch."
"Yes. But before we do, let's go over our plan one more time."