Before returning to Hourai Island, Jin kept his promise and visited No. 700672 in the White Room once more.
No. 700672 remained in bed as always, but he welcomed Jin with a warm smile.
"Welcome, Jin-dono."
"Thanks to you, I was able to find a way to counter the Negadoll."
As he spoke, Jin handed over another vial of recovery medicine.
"This is a help. I feel as though my condition has improved slightly since I began taking this."
"I'm glad to hear that."
"Yes, I am grateful."
Neige, standing by his side, looked up at Jin with a faint, happy smile.
"Now then..."
After taking a breath, Jin explained the outcome of the incident involving the Negadoll.
"Hmm, I see."
"Oh, so that happened."
"Intriguing. Just as I expected of you."
"Is that so? I cannot thank you enough."
No. 700672 nodded along to Jin’s explanation, interjecting with affirmations, and expressed his gratitude once the account of the unfortunate events was finished.
"Jin Nidou-dono. You have my gratitude for your wisdom, your decisive judgment, and your actions."
With gestures and a tone that seemed almost theatrical, No. 700672 offered Jin his formal thanks.
"No, I only did it for my own sake," Jin demurred.
"Hmm, that is only natural. All living things live for their own sake. It is merely that the motivation behind 'one's own sake' differs from person to person."
"..."
Confronted with such a philosophical statement, Jin hesitated. After a moment, he managed a reply.
"I suppose that might be true..."
To be honest, he only half-understood what the ancient being meant, but he felt the conversation wouldn't move forward if he didn't agree.
"Heh, you are still young. You may understand the words, but it will likely take time before you truly grasp the meaning."
No. 700672 spoke in a low murmur, his eyes looking as though they could see right through Jin.
"Now then, you did not come merely to report that you finished the task I left behind, did you? Is there not something else you wish to ask?"
As the conversation reached a natural lull, No. 700672 spoke as if he could read Jin's mind.
Jin took the opening. "Well, yes. I’d like to hear more about the past."
"Ho, and what is it you wish to know?"
"First, about the indigenous race that lived on this planet when your 'Masters' arrived."
Jin was still deeply curious about the roots of the servant race he had encountered in the demon territory.
"Hmm, when my Masters first arrived, was it...?"
No. 700672’s gaze drifted toward the distance as he recalled ages long past.
"...We first encountered the indigenous people in the lands further south. Their culture was primitive, using only chipped stone tools; they had only just learned to master fire."
The Paleolithic era, Jin thought as he listened.
"As their small settlements were scattered about, I recall that we moved entire villages from those remote areas to this continent and educated them to serve us."
"Did your people ever have children with them?"
"We did. Most often, it was with indigenous women."
"What did they look like?"
"Perhaps because they had adapted to the southern climate, I believe many had darker skin."
This confirmed Jin's theory: the servant race was indeed the original inhabitants of the world.
"I understand. Thank you very much."
With his doubts cleared, Jin thanked him, feeling relieved.
"Is there nothing else?"
"Oh, there is, but it wouldn't be very fun if I heard everything at once. I want to uncover the rest through my own efforts."
"Ho."
No. 700672 laughed, seemingly delighted by Jin's answer.
"...That is a fine attitude. If it is you, I am sure you can do it."
He paused for a moment before continuing.
"By the way, this may be an unwanted observation, but why is your body so misaligned?"
"Wait, what?"
Jin tilted his head, confused. No. 700672 elaborated.
"How should I put it... it is as if the majority of your physical form is an imitation."
"Th—"
"Could that be because Father was summoned?" Reiko cut in, having remained silent until now.
"Summoned? What do you mean by that?"
"Actually..."
Reiko proceeded to explain how Jin was the Second Generation Magi Craft Meister, found after she had searched for a successor for a thousand years following the instructions of her creator, Adriana Barbora Tsetse.
"I see, so that is how it was... That explains why you are not bound by the standard laws of this world."
No. 700672 accepted the explanation without much surprise.
"Still, summoning... Fascinating. I understand the concept, but how was it performed?"
"I am sorry, but I cannot explain that. My memory of the process is missing, likely due to the severe damage my previous core sustained," Reiko replied.
The automata who preceded the current Reiko had broken down at the end of her lifespan after entrusting everything to Jin. Because the corresponding sector of her control core had been so badly damaged, the specific knowledge hadn't been successfully transferred when her data was moved to the new control core.
"Just like before, I might be able to reproduce the method if I take the time, but..."
Reiko concluded that it could take decades, or even centuries.
"I see. That is a bit unfortunate, though it is a subject I would like to ponder myself," No. 700672 said, before turning back to Jin. "In that case, you say your body was burned in your original world? And when you were summoned, you were given a body composed of magiatoms?"
"Y-Yes. To be precise, I believe my original body was... supplemented."
Hearing that, No. 700672 looked down, lost in thought. He looked back up almost immediately.
"That is the cause. You said you fell into molten iron? Because of that, your lower body and most of your internal organs are in an inactive state."
"An inactive state?" Jin repeated.
"Yes. It is as if the magiatoms are merely pretending to be a physical body. To put it simply, they have not fully integrated with your original flesh."
"..."
"Have you not noticed certain physical anomalies or ailments in this state? For instance, your muscles refusing to grow stronger no matter how much you train."
Jin nodded vigorously; it hit far too close to home.
"Yes. Exactly that."
"I thought as much. Most likely, you will never fall ill, but you will never grow either. Furthermore, as you are now, I suspect you would be unable to produce descendants."
"What...?"
"..."
Jin was stunned, and Reiko looked equally aghast.
"What must we do? Please, tell us!" Reiko pressed, leaning toward No. 700672.
"Now, do not panic, master-loving automata."
No. 700672 gently waved her off and began to explain the solution.
"There was a technique used to save those with catastrophic injuries using a similar principle. One would replace the missing parts of the body with transmutated, temporary flesh and then slowly allow it to integrate into the person's own system."
"And? How do we do that?"
Reiko was still visibly anxious. Since it concerned Jin's wellbeing, her concern was understandable.
"Are you aware that the cells making up a body are renewed in cycles ranging from several days to several months? Though it seems specialized cells like those in the brain are an exception."
Jin nodded silently.
"Good....The majority of your body is in a state where that renewal simply isn't happening. By activating these areas, the balance of your entire body should be restored."
"In short, it's like I'm currently using ultra-precise prosthetic limbs and organs?" Jin asked.
"Precisely. That is a very accurate analogy. Now, as for the method of activation..."
Jin swallowed hard, waiting.
"What kind of healing magic can you use? It will be difficult unless you have access to cell activation-type magic."
"In that case, I can use up to Völlig Genesen," Reiko answered.
It was a Shouro Empire-style incantation that Elsa favored, but it was the highest-tier surgical healing magic.
"Hmm, I take it that magic is effective for wounds and physical trauma? That will do. You simply need to cast it on Jin-dono repeatedly—perhaps several dozen times."
By doing so, the cells of his original body would be stimulated, and the temporary magiatom-based flesh would activate in response.
"You may feel some pain or a throbbing sensation as the replacement occurs, but..."
Because Jin had never suffered a life-threatening injury, he had never had Völlig Genesen cast on his entire body. That was one reason he hadn't noticed his condition until now.
When he had climbed the mountain to pursue the Gigas, he had only scraped his hand on the way back, so it was no surprise he hadn't realized the truth.
"As a test, why don't you try it once here, master-loving automata?"
No. 700672 offered to monitor Jin's vitals, and Reiko agreed immediately.
"Father, may I?"
Jin didn't object. "Go ahead."
"Völlig Genesen!"
"...Ugh!?...Augh...!"
A dull, heavy pain surged through Jin's entire body. He clutched himself, breaking out in a cold sweat as his face contorted in agony.
"Father!?"
Reiko looked so distressed that she might have turned pale if her skin were capable of it. Jin squeezed out his voice to reassure her.
"...I'm... okay."
The pain faded after about ten seconds, and Jin let out a long breath of relief.
"Hmm, there is a definite improvement. That single treatment activated about five percent of the inactive areas."
That meant he would have to endure that pain nineteen more times. To be honest, Jin was already dreading it.
"Actually, I do not believe you need to do them all at once. In fact, it is said the integration is smoother if you leave time between sessions."
Hearing that, Jin decided to limit it to once or twice a day, taking it one step at a time. He decided to call it a day.