"That must be it."
The building was so distinct there was no mistaking it.
The exterior walls appeared to be made of metal. Though they had grown dull and lost their luster over the course of a millennium, they had not yet begun to corrode.
"I wonder what it's made of?"
Since the metal had withstood over a thousand years of exposure to wind, rain, and sunlight without rusting, Jin’s professional curiosity was piqued.
However, even attempting to investigate was difficult. The structure was shielded by a barrier, preventing him from using Analyze.
"Father, what shall we do?"
"Hmm, let me see..."
There were several ways to breach a barrier. One could use brute force, disable the generator, negate it with an opposing barrier, or find a gap where the field didn't reach.
The second and fourth options were the most diplomatic.
"Let’s try the Magic Canceller."
Since the location of the generator was unknown, Jin decided to start by tracing the flow of magical energy sustaining the barrier.
"Reiko... and Elsa, help me out. I'll check this side."
"Yes, Father."
"Understood. Leave it to me."
The three of them—Jin, Reiko, and Elsa—searched for the generator's location. However, it seemed to be expertly hidden, and they found no trace of it.
"...I guess we can't find it from the outside after all."
After searching for about fifteen minutes to no avail, Jin called out to Reiko and Elsa to stop.
"The generator must be deep inside the barrier. Let's not waste any more effort."
When they were in the town of Battalf, they had already been inside the barrier's perimeter, which was why disabling it had been so easy.
"Jin, what's the plan then?" Saki asked.
"We'll dig a hole."
Ordinary barriers didn't typically extend deep underground. That was why they had been able to infiltrate the magifortress in the Kingdom of Franz by digging.
But just as Reiko stepped forward to start digging, there was movement from within the barrier.
"...Another automata?"
Just as in Battalf, an automata serving as an administrator’s subordinate appeared.
"Welcome, guests. I shall partially deactivate the barrier. I would be most grateful if you would refrain from damaging it."
The one who spoke these smooth words was an automata who looked like a young man in his twenties.
"A steward, perhaps?" Goose muttered.
The automata nodded at Goose’s remark.
"Indeed. I am Baseth IX, the steward automata of House Tierra."
Baseth IX held up his right palm. Though nothing was visible to the naked eye, a barrier certainly stood there.
A moment later, a faintly glowing ring appeared where the barrier should have been. It was large enough for a person to pass through comfortably.
"Please, enter through here."
Jin decided to once again leave Edgar and Aaru behind as guardians of the automobile while the rest of the group passed through the barrier.
"Hanna, stay close to Reiko."
Concerned for Hanna's safety, Jin was the first to step through. Reiko and Hanna followed, then Elsa and Saki. Goose acted as the rearguard, keeping a sharp eye out as they crossed the threshold.
"This way, please."
Baseth IX said nothing about the automobile or the two guardians left behind and simply led the way. Their destination was, as expected, the dome-shaped building.
"...The metal looks similar to 18-12 stainless steel."
Jin made his prediction based on the color and texture, then focused his magic. "...Analyze."
When he actually checked the composition, he was surprised.
"...Nickel... and iron."
The composition was remarkably close to an alloy called Invar, which has an extremely low coefficient of thermal expansion.
"I suppose for a structure this size, you'd have to worry about warping."
Considering the potential for distortion caused by the temperature difference between the sunny and shady sides of the dome, such precision made sense. Even on Earth, railroad tracks could buckle under the midsummer sun.
While Jin was lost in thought, Baseth IX opened the door.
"Please, step inside."
There was always a chance it was a trap, but they had come too far to turn back now. Trusting in the things he had made—Reiko, his Protect Ring, and the Fellowship Bracelet—Jin stepped through the doorway.
Ultimately, his caution proved unnecessary. The interior was deathly quiet; the only sound was that of their own footsteps.
"There's no sign of life."
Jin’s murmur echoed the feelings of the entire group.
Walking three meters ahead of them, Baseth IX continued without looking back. They proceeded down a gently curving corridor that seemed to follow the outer wall of the dome before taking a left turn.
It looks like corridors radiate from the center, connected by concentric circular halls, Jin thought.
The realization that he was actually walking through the House Tierra he had read about in the memoirs filled him with a sense of profound history. He was curious about what lay behind the doors lining the hall, but he couldn't exactly go around snooping.
As Jin had suspected, Baseth IX stopped in front of a door in the very center of the dome.
"We are here."
Without knocking, Baseth IX opened the door to the room.
"Wait, what?"
The expectation that someone would be waiting for them was immediately subverted. The room was empty.
"This is the most important room for those of the clan who bear the name Tierra."
"..."
The group looked around in silence. Their first impression was that the room bore a striking resemblance to those used by the demon race. It was simple and devoid of unnecessary decoration. The furniture—desks, chairs, and cabinets—eschewed sharp lines in favor of soft, curved designs. The color palette was understated, consisting mostly of somber grays.
However, there were also many differences. The floor was made of wood rather than fur or carpet, and the furniture was also crafted entirely from wood. Jin wasn't sure if this was due to the materials available or if cultural differences had emerged over the long centuries.
According to Shuuki Tsetse's memoirs, the "visitors" were strangers from the north. Since they had explicitly called themselves the descendants of "visitors," Jin suspected there was an undeniable link to the people known in the modern era as the demon race.
Currently, the closest inhabitants in this part of the Lauren Continent would be the Thunder, Crimson, and Hurricane clans. Since they were part of the radical faction, Jin speculated that their ancestors might have been traveling into the outside world since ancient times.
"...And for what purpose have you brought us here?"
Reiko's voice snapped Jin back to the present.
"I wished to pass on memories," Baseth IX replied in a detached tone.
"Memories?"
"Precisely. Approximately ninety-three years and four months ago, the last successor of House Tierra passed away. At that moment, my raison d'être virtually ceased to exist."
"..."
Reiko listened with a touch of sadness on her face. Jin wondered if she was remembering the death of the Predecessor, and he gently placed a hand on her head.
"...Father?"
She looked up, puzzled for a second, but as she realized the meaning behind the touch, she smiled happily.
Baseth IX continued his tale.
"Of the two missions remaining to me, one is to ensure that House Tierra is never forgotten. I have waited. And today, you have come."