As evening approached, those who had been unconscious—including Bafrosk, the Clan Chief of the Jest, and his followers—finally began to wake.
"Wh... What happened?"
"Are you awake, Bafrosk?"
Raldo, who had regained consciousness a short while earlier, peered into Bafrosk’s face from the adjacent bed.
"Raldo... is it? Just what happened?"
"Do you not remember?"
Bafrosk sat up in bed and shook his head several times, letting out a low groan.
"...At that time... a shuju... just when I thought he appeared out of nowhere... he threw a silver ball... I remember nothing after that."
As Bafrosk groaned while clutching his head, Raldo spoke to him in a quiet, steady tone.
"It was an Ether Stampede."
"What?"
"That was the bane of the demon race—an Ether Stampede."
Bafrosk was speechless for a long moment. Eventually, he seemed to accept the reality of it, and strength returned to his voice.
"...Then, why am I alive? And you as well!"
"Because we were saved."
"What?"
"The automata created by Magi Craft Meister Jin-dono, who happened to be present, cast a barrier that just managed to protect myself, Belialus, and you. Even so, the barrier could not fully block the power of the Ether Stampede; everyone lost consciousness because the local free ether was depleted."
"..."
Bafrosk looked down again, lost in thought. He could not reconcile the fact that he had been saved by the Magi Craft Meister he had so adamantly rejected.
However, in the middle of his internal struggle, he realized a far more pressing issue.
"Th-That's right! What happened to the rest of the clan!?"
"..."
Raldo hesitated for a second, wondering if he should tell the truth so soon, but decided that since Bafrosk would find out eventually, he should speak plainly.
"...Including yourself, twenty survived. As for the rest..."
"...Twenty? Of my Jest clan, which numbered over a hundred? What? Even the Chief of the Frenzy clan is...?"
Bafrosk went limp, the strength draining from his body as he cradled his head in his hands. Raldo remained silent; he understood the weight of that loss.
However, Bafrosk somehow managed to shift his focus, abruptly looking up.
"...Was it that shuju who did it?"
"Y-Yeah. That thing is Negadoll 001. It is plotting to make demons and humans fight until we are both destroyed. It is our true enemy."
Bafrosk listened with a dark expression.
"I wanted to explain this sooner, but that chaos broke out before I could," Raldo added, making sure to drive the point home.
"...I suppose I shall hear everything you wanted to say," Bafrosk said in a voice heavy with grim resolve.
Though he felt for Bafrosk, Raldo saw this moment—when the chief had finally become rational—as an opportunity. He explained everything they had learned thus far.
"So it was true that our ancestors came from the sky. And this Negadoll... I will never forgive it."
A dark flame kindled in Bafrosk's eyes as he finished listening, though Raldo did not notice the change.
"So, what is the plan from here?"
Rejoicing that Bafrosk had become cooperative, Raldo explained that the subordinates of Magi Craft Meister Jin were currently searching for Negadoll 001's base.
"I see. The Magi Craft Meister's technical skill is apparently considerable. They will find it eventually."
With that, Bafrosk lay back down and closed his eyes. Raldo, having said what needed to be said and still not being in perfect physical condition, lay back down as well.
Meanwhile, Laozi was lurking inside a ventilation duct leading to the command room of Negadoll 001's base.
(It teleported away and returned in just two seconds. Quite swift.)
He returned to his observations. During that time, he learned via the network that an Ether Stampede had occurred.
(Presumably, the goal was to pin the responsibility for the deaths of the radicals on My Lord and trigger internal strife. However, because Anne ensured Bafrosk's survival, that plan has collapsed. A fortunate turn of events.)
He then considered the danger of the Ether Stampede.
(Since no method to prevent it has been established, even Reiko-san or I would be rendered immobile.)
It might be one thing if they saw the silver ball—the trigger magic tool—coming, but there would be no defense if an Ether Stampede were triggered by a surprise attack or in a location they weren't monitoring.
(I must work with My Lord to establish countermeasures.)
The main brain, Laojun, considered various possibilities alongside Jin.
They began with a precision inspection of Anne, who had been recalled to Hourai Island.
"...It looks like the surface of the control core has been eroded."
"That means the free ether constituting the magi-crystal was also affected."
It was a stroke of luck that, thanks to techniques passed down from the Predecessor, the magi-formulae were engraved deep inside the magi-crystals.
To be safe, Jin decided to replace Anne’s magi-devices, starting with her control core.
"It might have been dangerous if the Ether Stampede had lasted much longer... It's possible the barrier had some effect as well."
Jin breathed a sigh of relief, glad that the precious Anne had not been lost.
Next, they analyzed the Ether Stampede based on the results of diagnosing the demons' bodies.
The recovered silver ball was empty inside—or rather, it contained only a trace of fine dust.
Jin hypothesized that the magi-crystal used to trigger the effect had likely disintegrated due to the Ether Stampede itself.
"Now, as for how the Ether Stampede affects the biological body..."
It was known to be a spell that caused free ether to run wild.
It was a recognized fact that magi absorbed free ether from the air through respiration and refined it into mana within their bodies.
Jin and Laojun hypothesized that the "organ" responsible for this process wasn't a distinct anatomical structure, but rather specialized organelles within the cells themselves—what they called magi-mitochondria.
Just as mitochondria govern the energy cycle known as the TCA cycle to supply energy to living organisms, they believed magi-mitochondria produced mana. The quality and quantity of these organelles likely determined a magi’s total magical capacity.
"Since the magi-mitochondria within the cells have a close relationship with free ether, they are likely destroyed when an Ether Stampede occurs. My hypothesis is that the cells die as a result, leading to the death of the host."
Jin nodded at Laojun's hypothesis. There was nothing to contradict it.
"In that case, the next step is considering countermeasures."
That was the more pressing issue.
"If we use the scales and hide of the Grandragon as a shield for the control core, I think it would be effective."
"Indeed. Using it in conjunction with the current mithril would be best."
Even that might be insufficient, but it was better than doing nothing.
"That hide also continuously converts mana into free ether, doesn't it?"
"Yes. It would have been even more effective if it continuously converted magic into free ether."
"True enough."
They continued to consult on various ideas, but no perfect solution emerged, leaving Jin at a loss.
Then, a thought suddenly occurred to him.
"Laojun, do you think No. 700672 knows anything about the Ether Stampede?"
"I cannot say for certain, but as I have mentioned before, I believe the possibility that he knows is high."
"Yeah. Even if he doesn't, we could at least ask for his opinion on it."
In any case, they were out of time. If they spent weeks on it, Jin and the others could likely analyze the Ether Stampede in more detail, but right now, every hour was precious.
"We know the coordinates of that room, right?"
"Yes. Since Reiko-san and Anne have visited it."
"Alright, I'm going there directly to ask him."
"My Lord!? That is dangerous."
However, Jin dismissed the concern.
"He called Alectas one of the 'Fallner' and didn't reject him, right? Then I should be fine too."
"But, what Reiko-san will say..."
"Yeah, I know. Get in touch with Reiko and have her come back here temporarily."
And so, Laojun used the manacam to contact Reiko. As expected, her response was immediate.
"Father, please stop such dangerous behavior!"
However, Jin's curiosity was not so easily deterred.
"Land and the others are there right now, aren't they? They said all the teleportation markers have been removed, and I'll be wearing my reinforced suit. Besides, Reiko, you'll be coming with me. How about that?"
"...I understand."
Having been told that much, Reiko reluctantly agreed. She immediately used the Warp Gate to return to Hourai Island.
Laojun then presented a single gun to Reiko.
"Reiko-san, this is a specially tuned transporter gun. It is calibrated to Shinkai, so please use it if danger approaches My Lord."
"Understood."
The plan was to use the transporter gun to forcibly teleport Jin away to the relay station if the worst happened.
With every conceivable precaution taken, Jin used the transporter to teleport to the base where Servant No. 700672 resided.
"...So this is the interior of the Heavenly Ship..."
Jin stepped onto the deck of the ancient spaceship. He stood in the large room lined with many "windows."
"We have been waiting for you, Master."
Land units 31 through 40 and Smith units 11 through 20 greeted him.
"Good work, everyone. So, where is No. 700672's room?"
While he was intensely interested in the magi-machines around him, he had to fulfill the purpose of his visit first.
"Yes, it is right there."
The spot Reiko pointed to showed thin lines engraved in the wall—a door.
"Incredible. The gap between the wall and the door is microscopic. Exquisite precision."
As he spoke, Jin stroked the surface of the door. Just as when Alectas had touched it, the door slid open without a sound.
Jin stepped into the White Room.
"Who are you?"
Unlike the previous time, a conscious No. 700672 spoke a challenge.
"Excuse the intrusion. I am Jin Nidou. I have come because there is something I wish to ask you."
Standing at the entrance, Jin introduced himself and stated his purpose. Servant No. 700672, sitting on the bed, narrowed his eyes as he looked at him.
"It was you who created that magnificent automata."
"Yes. Can you tell?"
"I can. I can feel a magical connection. More than that, that automata seeks to protect you with absolute devotion; she leaves not a single opening."
Neige, the white-clad girl by the bedside, moved to huddle close to No. 700672 upon hearing his words.
"So, what is it you wish to ask?"
"I have come to seek your wisdom on how to deal with the Negadolls... No, the Failures."