Since it seemed there was nothing more he could accomplish that day, Jin and Reiko landed and returned to the laboratory.
Then, with Reiko’s assistance, Jin began compiling the fundamental data for 3D maneuvering.
When the time came to apply this to other golems or aircraft, having this data would mean they wouldn't have to start from scratch.
The task was complete once he had saved everything into Laojun’s memory bank.
Next, Jin set about further modifying Reiko.
"Hmm... with the way it works now, anyone other than Reiko would probably be in serious trouble."
Sudden acceleration, sudden braking, sudden turns—each maneuver would generate an incredible amount of force.
"Not just dozens of Gs, but hundreds... Wait. Acceleration?"
Suddenly, Jin paused to reconsider the operating principles of the force generator.
"Force is ultimately equal to mass times acceleration. In other words..."
If used correctly, there was a possibility that the acceleration pressure known as G-force might not be generated at all.
"It’s just like 'Forming'... because the force is only applied to the necessary objects."
The current force generator applied force to a specific point. Jin’s new idea was to apply that force to the object as a whole.
"It should be possible."
Based on that theory, he began refining the force generator.
"With this method, both rotation and linear movement should be completely seamless."
He improved the system so it could identify the 'object' known as Reiko and apply its effects to her entire being. This included anything she held in her hands—provided it was below a certain size—as well as the clothes she wore.
By doing this, the same force would be applied to every single atom of the materials composing Reiko’s body. This had the massive advantage of neutralizing the effects of inertia.
The 3D maneuvering they had performed earlier had only been possible because of Reiko’s exceptionally durable body. If a living creature tried the same thing, they would be flattened by the sheer inertia.
The modifications took about an hour to complete.
He also added a dedicated magi reactor to the system.
Having an independent energy source like this would greatly improve overall reliability.
Finally, Jin performed his customary total inspection, maintenance, and fine-tuning. Going even further, he swapped out some of her materials, managing to increase her strength by five percent while successfully returning Reiko’s weight to her original thirty kilograms.
"All right, Reiko. 'Wake up'."
"Yes, Father."
As she sat up, Reiko reported that she didn't just feel normal—her condition had improved significantly.
"I’d like you to perform a movement test."
"Understood. I'm going!"
Stepping outside the laboratory, Reiko rose slowly before darting through the twilight sky with total freedom.
"Father, this is amazing! My body feels as light as a feather, yet I feel more powerful than ever!"
"I see. A great success, then."
Reiko spoke with a hint of excitement as she landed. It was likely a sensation unlike anything she had ever felt before.
"With this, you won't be limited by your own weight even when pushing heavy objects, for instance."
"Ah, you're right."
Since Reiko only weighed thirty kilograms, it had been mechanically impossible for her to push a three-hundred-kilogram object unless her feet were firmly anchored to the ground.
From now on, the force generator would provide the necessary support.
Reiko had become more powerful than ever.
"All right, that’s enough work for today. Let's have dinner."
Under a sky where the first impatient stars had begun to twinkle, Jin and Reiko headed to the house where Soleil and Luna stood guard.
The dinner Soleil prepared consisted of white rice, wakame miso soup, Meat-Topopo—a meat and potato stew—rolled omelets, simmered hijiki with fried tofu, and pickled Napa cabbage.
Since it was a spread of all his favorites, Jin ate until he was stuffed.
Unusually, Jin was the only person in the house tonight. Neither Hanna nor Elsa was there. Since Reiko, Soleil, and Luna remained silent unless Jin spoke to them, the house was deathly quiet.
The only sound was the chirping of insects outside, a silence that made Jin feel a little lonely.
"...Maybe I'll take a bath."
It was pitch black outside now, and the moon was rising. Jin headed toward the open-air bath.
"Ah, this is the life."
Jin stretched his limbs, relaxing in the hot spring. Reiko accompanied him.
"You have been very busy lately, Father."
Reiko seemed to be in a good mood, having Jin all to herself.
This reminds me of the old days...
Back when Jin first visited Blue Land and Port Rock, Reiko had been the only one there to support him.
Even now, Jin’s trust in her remained absolute. Among all the automata he had created, Reiko was the one he trusted most.
"Tomorrow, I’d like to see if I can apply the force generator to engines."
If he could adapt it for aircraft, they would be able to fly even in a vacuum. Jin soaked in the hot water, his mind filled with various possibilities.
"But still... air resistance is going to be the main issue."
Jin turned the problem over in his mind. He moved his hands through the water, feeling the resistance against his palms as he experimented with different angles.
Eventually, he grew bored with that and dipped the washcloth he’d been resting on his head into the water. No one was there to scold him for the breach of etiquette. Besides, the water here welled up from the bottom and was constantly refreshed, meaning it stayed perfectly clean.
Jin tried a little trick with the washcloth, trapping air inside to make it round like a bald head. It was a simple bath game he hadn't played since he was a young child, over a decade ago.
As he watched the trapped air escape into bubbles that fizzed and popped away, a sudden flash of inspiration struck him.
"...Hm? Wait a minute."
He remembered a future technology he had read about in a manga once called 'supercavitation.'
By enveloping a torpedo or a submarine in a layer of air bubbles, water resistance could be drastically reduced, allowing them to travel at hundreds of kilometers per hour underwater. It was only a vague, half-remembered piece of knowledge, but to Jin, it was a divine revelation.
"If we’re using force generator propulsion, it won't even matter!"
"Father?"
Reiko stared at him, puzzled by his sudden outburst.
"Hm? Oh, right. Sorry. I just thought of a great way to eliminate air and water resistance."
"As expected of you, Father! What sort of method is it?"
"Well, I already knew we could reduce air resistance using a Breeze Barrier. However, because the Magi Jet Engine has to suck in and expel air, I couldn't use a full barrier. But..."
"Since the force generator provides the propulsion, that's no longer an issue! How brilliant. In that case, the same logic applies to the Magi-Water Jet, doesn't it?"
"Exactly. For the Mermaids, for instance."
Their maneuverability underwater would improve by two or even three orders of magnitude.
"I can't wait for tomorrow."
Seeing Jin murmur with such a happy expression, Reiko couldn't help but smile joyfully herself.
The following day, the 21st, Jin immediately set to work installing a force generator into Pegasus 1.
Since the use of a Breeze Barrier would make aerodynamic steering impossible, he had to set up the force generator to handle direction changes as well.
Calibrating the system proved to be quite a chore, and in a rare turn of events for Jin, the work took up his entire morning. Naturally, he also installed the latest model of the Breeze Barrier.
"All right. Let's do a test run before lunch."
"Father, there may be risks, so please leave the testing to me."
As Jin prepared to board, Reiko stepped in to stop him.
"Hmm, well, I suppose you’re right."
Jin readily accepted Reiko’s proposal. He believed it would be safe, but he also knew that letting her test it first was the fastest way to get himself into the pilot's seat.
"Well then, I'm off."
Reiko boarded Pegasus 1 and took off using the standard Magi Jet Engine first.
Jin hurried to the manacam in the laboratory and established a connection with her.
"Reiko, how does it feel?"
"Everything is normal, Father. I am now activating the force generator."
Reiko flipped the switch.
Through the manacam, Reiko’s status appeared unchanged.
"Father, the speed is incredible. I am now activating the Breeze Barrier."
Reiko flipped the second switch.
Again, it was impossible to tell the difference through the manacam alone. However, Laojun chimed in with a report.
"My Lord, according to the magi-radar measurements, the craft is currently traveling at approximately 2,500 kilometers per hour."
Roughly Mach 2. It had shattered the supersonic barrier with ease—and without producing a single sonic boom.
"Reiko, is there any trouble with the handling?"
"No, it's perfectly fine. The control systems are showing no abnormalities. I will now begin the maneuverability tests."
Though nothing could be seen through the manacam, Reiko could be observed working the control stick for some time before she finally reported back.
"I have completed tests for sudden climbs, dives, turns, loops, and rolls. No problems to report. I am heading back now."
"All right, good work. Get back here as soon as you can."
Eager to experience the speed for himself, Jin gave the order for Reiko to return as quickly as possible.