After observing the room where the homunculi were being manufactured, Shinobi 2 decided not to overstay its welcome and departed via the transporter.
The destination was the surface. Falcon 5 was standing by for recovery, and together with Shinobi 1—who had escaped earlier—both units returned to Hourai Island.
"I see. So that is what happened last night."
Laojun reported the situation to Jin first thing on the morning of the 10th.
The primary point of concern was the homunculus units apparently modeled after Arshel.
"There is a chance the real Arshel is also in that underground facility," Jin mused.
"Yes, My Lord. I believe that is highly likely."
Given the high concentration of free ether there, it was probably a comfortable environment for her.
"And regarding the automata that resembles No. 700672..."
"No, to be precise, it simply shares a similar atmosphere. It is not an exact copy. The model number is likely different."
"In any case, it means there was an Origin facility beneath the Elrad Mine as well."
"Yes, that is correct."
This was a major discovery. At the same time, it presented many questions that Jin could not answer on his own. Consequently, Jin decided to go and speak with No. 700672.
"Elsa, what will you do?"
Jin turned to Elsa, who had been silently listening to the report alongside him.
"Go on ahead by yourself this time, Jin-nii. I'm going to stay with Hanna-chan for a bit," she replied.
Jin gratefully accepted the offer. "I'll leave things here to you, then."
"Mm. Be careful."
With Reiko in tow, Jin teleported to No. 700672’s location.
"Oh, it is Jin-dono. Welcome."
No. 700672 greeted him with his usual composed demeanor. Jin handed over the customary gift: Hourai Island’s special Persica juice.
"My apologies for the frequent visits. So, what is it you wish to ask today?"
"Well, actually..."
Cutting straight to the point, Jin relayed every detail regarding the newly discovered facility and its contents. Reiko supplemented the explanation where necessary.
"I see... so my masters left a facility in such a place as well."
After listening to the report, No. 700672 closed his eyes, appearing lost in thought for a moment before speaking.
"Let us discuss this in order. First, there is no mistake that the facility was built by the same people who were my masters."
He said he knew as much the moment he heard the description of the interior.
"Next, regarding that automata who resembles me—I believe one of your speculations is correct."
His theory was that for some reason, the individual had become unable to maintain their original body and had transferred their consciousness into an automata.
"I tried to put myself in that person's shoes. Until I met you, Jin-dono, my own body was weakening and becoming difficult to maintain. In such a state, it would not be strange to consider discarding this quasi-biological form and transferring one's consciousness into a purely mechanical automata. As long as there is someone to provide maintenance, an automata's body can exist semi-permanently."
Being a fellow servant homunculus himself, No. 700672 felt he could understand the unknown servant's logic.
"That being said, I have no intention of discarding this body given to me by my master. That part likely comes down to individual preference."
"I see, so that's how it is." Jin nodded. One of Laojun’s hypotheses had been validated.
"Now, regarding the matter of those homunculi made in the likeness of Arshel."
"Yes."
"As one possibility, I suspect that servant was considering transferring their consciousness into those bodies rather than an automata."
"...Eh?"
Arshel was a young girl. In appearance, she looked to be around eight years old—even younger than Hanna. Jin could not fathom someone wanting to transfer their consciousness into such a body.
When he voiced his doubt, No. 700672 chuckled.
"Haha, so that is how it feels to you, Jin-dono. However, my kin and I have no gender in the original sense. Therefore, using the body of Arshel... or Rouge, would cause no hesitation."
"I-I see..." It was a concept Jin found difficult to grasp.
"Our reason for existence is to be useful to our masters. If that master is gone, then our secondary purpose is to protect the legacy they left behind."
No. 700672 concluded that some would choose any means necessary to fulfill that duty.
"Though my way of thinking differs slightly on that point. They may be a servant even older than I."
"Um, is there any specific advantage to using Arshel's form?" Jin wondered. To him, if someone were going to make a homunculus specifically to inhabit, it would make more sense to model it after their own original appearance.
"Hmm, I see. That is a question born of not knowing how a servant is made."
No. 700672 gave a firm nod and began his explanation anew.
"There are two things absolutely necessary when creating a homunculus. One is a mental catalyst."
No. 700672 held up one finger.
"And the other is... well, I suppose you could call it a 'blueprint.' In short, genetic information to serve as a model."
Even though they were artificial, homunculi were still biological organisms. That was why healing magic and recovery magic were effective on them.
"There are likely aspects you cannot yet fully grasp, Jin-dono, and since you seem to have little interest in artificial life anyway, I will omit the finer details—but the body is identical in composition to a human's."
"Right..."
Listening to the explanation, Jin was reminded of cloning technology. It seemed that one created a body through cloning and then anchored a soul into it using a mental catalyst.
"In that process, the higher the performance of the original body used as a base, the higher the physical capabilities of the resulting homunculus."
That was easy enough to understand.
"And presumably, in the facility where that servant is located, there was no genetic information left that could produce more servants. In fact, none remains here either."
"Which means..."
"Indeed. The descendants of the 'Fallner'—the demon race—possess high physical capabilities and sturdy bodies. Therefore, I believe they chose to use Arshel as a model."
This explained the majority of Jin's questions.
"Now, purely as a speculation—you mentioned there were a large number of magical beasts underground?"
"Ah, yes."
"...I suspect those magical beasts are being farmed specifically to harvest mental catalysts."
"Ah!"
Jin realized it the moment it was pointed out. He thought of the mental catalysts he had found beneath the Inado Mine, and the swarms of Gigant Peeders that had emerged from there.
While Gigant Peeders were difficult to handle if they overpopulated, the ones in this new facility were Gigantoavrum. Arshel should have been able to tame them with ease.
"Then, Arshel and that servant are..."
"Indeed, there is a high possibility that they are in a cooperative relationship."
"..."
Jin fell silent, troubled. When Arshel had encountered Gloria, she had seemed possessed by a certain madness, even setting the Gigantoavrum on humans. What was she like now?
"...It might be best to tell Belialus."
After weighing the situation, Jin concluded that it would be best to inform Belialus, who was desperately searching for his sister, and perhaps visit the facility alongside him.
"Hmm, that may be a wise course of action," No. 700672 agreed. "However, if that is indeed a facility used by a master, you will not be able to enter it casually. I will not say they are hostile, but that servant likely will not open their heart easily."
"Then, what should I do?"
"Do not rush. Several methods can be considered."
Suppressing his urge to press for answers, Jin waited for No. 700672 to continue.
"You should take this with you."
No. 700672 searched through a shelf and handed a green crystal cube to Jin. The cube caught the ambient light, emitting a soft emerald glow.
"...This is..."
"Hmm? Have you seen 'Mityanite' before?"
"'Mityanite'? You mean Elradrite?"
"Is that what you call it? I suppose it was named after the Elrad Mine nearby....So, do you know the properties of this stone?"
No. 700672 watched Jin with testing eyes. While Jin had his own thoughts on the naming of Elradrite, he prioritized answering the question.
"Yes. It has a magic amplification effect, doesn't it?"
If Elradrite—Mityanite—were compared to an electrical component, it would be a capacitor. By storing a massive amount of magic—mana—and releasing it all at once, it allowed a caster to manifest magic far beyond their normal capacity.
No. 700672 smiled and nodded. "That is only half correct."