The season had turned, bringing a cool breeze that stirred in the mornings and evenings.
Observing the steady progress of his disciples, Shuuki finally decided it was time to teach them the craft of creating a Golem.
"A Golem can perform tasks that are impossible for humans to do themselves. However, you must never allow yourselves to become entirely dependent on them."
During his travels, Shuuki had established Golem factories in places like the cities of Mitsuho, but he understood the inherent danger of relying too heavily on such creations.
That said, there was no denying that Golem technology offered advantages that far outweighed the risks.
"First, the basics. I will show you how to create a Stone Golem using magi-rock."
"Ohh!"
Knowing they were about to learn the secrets behind the legendary Golems, the new disciples' spirits soared, to say nothing of the senior disciples.
In this era, primitive Golems had been put to practical use, but they were the exclusive domain of certain nobles and royalty. None of the disciples Shuuki had gathered in this town had ever seen a real one before.
Using spells like Forming and Shaping, the Golem began to take on a physical presence.
Liebeslau, the First Disciple, was the one performing the magic.
"Ooh..."
"So this is... a Golem..."
Since many were witnessing the process for the first time, several disciples let out groans of admiration.
"...Then, once you have fashioned the humanoid shape like this, you engrave the magi-formula into the chest."
Since everyone had already mastered the Magi Language, there was no one present who couldn't follow Shuuki’s explanation.
A complex magi-formula was meticulously carved into the chest, which was built significantly larger than a human's.
"This is how it works. The keyword to activate it is 'Wake up.' To stop it, the word is 'Behold.'"
While Shuuki gave his lecture, Adriana was lost in her own thoughts.
(...Since that magi-formula is written on the outside of the chest, won't it stop working if even a little bit gets scraped off? What if it were written on the inside?)
Adriana was beginning to awaken to her own unique approach to Golem engineering.
(Right, if I use Fusion on everything, the letters will disappear too, so I should leave that part alone... I know, maybe I could make a lid over it so it can be rewritten later...)
However, it would be a little while longer before her genius truly began to shine.
＊ ＊ ＊
Several days passed. The Golem lectures had progressed to the mid-level.
"This is a simplified version of the human skeletal structure I have taught you previously."
Lying before them was a frame made of steel. Though simplified, it possessed a skull, sternum, pelvis, and the spinal column that connected them.
"The reason we make them resemble humans is because Golem movements are modeled after our own. If we want them to mimic human motion, it is only rational to mirror our physical structure."
(Yeah, I understand what Father is saying. But if you're going to educate them from a blank slate where they know nothing and can do nothing, is that really necessary...?)
Adriana's reasoning held its own logic. Since they were starting from a fresh, "infant" state, it was likely possible to train them even if they were shaped like a four-legged dog.
(But that would take a lot of time... That's probably why Father wants to perfect Trans Info...)
The magic to copy human knowledge directly onto a magi-crystal was a dream Shuuki pursued relentlessly.
What he could achieve now was Send Info. By using it after meticulously preparing the necessary data, he could transmit limited information to a target.
Using this method, he could send basic behavioral data to a Golem, such as how to walk or stop.
However, he had yet to realize a way to record or transmit human memories in their entirety.
(Someday, I'm going to be the one to make it happen for you...!)
This was Adriana's secret resolution.
"Next, you attach the muscles like this."
"Teacher, why are they positioned at an angle?"
"Hmm, that is an excellent question. Does anyone here know the answer?"
The senior disciples, having been with him for a long time, already knew and did not raise their hands. The newer disciples, however, simply tilted their heads in confusion.
"..."
"I do!"
While the others remained silent, Adriana raised her hand high.
"Adriana, give us the answer."
"Yes! It's because human arms and legs don't just bend and stretch; they need to twist, too."
"Correct....Observe."
Shuuki extended his right arm and demonstrated by twisting his hand back and forth.
"We are capable of such movements because our muscles are attached at a slight angle."
"Oh, I see!"
The disciples cried out in unison, impressed.
"Now that you understand, let's begin the work. We'll start with this muscle here."
＊ ＊ ＊
"..."
"............"
"This is the first time I've seen this, and it's so interesting!"
The younger disciples who had been working alongside the senior disciples were exhausted by the unfamiliar labor, but Adriana remained full of energy.
"I learned a great deal today."
Actually, there was one other; the Bailiff's daughter, Chatone, still had energy to spare as well. She seemed to be remarkably dexterous.
"Let's call it a day. Tomorrow, I will explain the control core."
"Thank you very much!"
"Thank you, Teacher."
Bowing politely, the young disciples departed with expressions of relief.
Only Adriana remained, along with...
"Teacher, would you mind teaching me one more thing?"
It was Chatone.
"Certainly. What is it?"
"Yes. It's about the magical muscle."
"The magical muscle?"
"Yes. You used magical beast hide as the material, didn't you? Wouldn't it be more efficient to use the actual muscles of a magical beast instead?"
Chatone wondered why they used leather instead of using muscle to create muscle.
"I see, that is a natural question to ask. It’s true that muscle tissue would be easier to use as a direct analogue. However, magical beast muscle has a fatal flaw."
"And that is?"
"Preservability. Muscle tissue decays far too quickly. One might even say its shelf life is non-existent."
"Ah..."
Muscles were, in essence, meat. Since meat rots if left alone, preservation requires drying it into jerky or salting it.
"Dried muscle simply cannot produce the necessary force."
Leather, however, was different. Tanned leather retained its elasticity and flexibility, and it would contract when a specific magical current was passed through it.
Because of this, magical beast hide was currently the most ideal material for a Golem's muscle tissue.
"I... I understand now."
Satisfied at last, Chatone gave a deep bow and took her leave.
"Father, isn't there any material better than magical beast leather?"
Even high-quality leather was unlikely to last more than a century or two.
"Hmm, unfortunately not. If we had a better material, I could create even higher-performance Golems and automata."
"I see..."
Adriana, who took Shuuki’s words to heart, would later in life dedicate significant effort to the research and selection of new materials.
"Now then, let's leave the difficult talk for today and go for a short walk."
"Okay!"
"Take care, Master," the senior disciples said as they saw them off.
Shuuki and Adriana headed out hand-in-hand toward a small hill on the outskirts of Yurugano. On the mountain, the autumn foliage had already begun to turn.
"Wow, it's so pretty!"
"The trees change their colors when autumn arrives. And soon, winter will be here again."
"And when it's winter, the snow will fall on the mountains, right?"
"Yes, that's right."
Shuuki wanted Adriana to become a first-rate magi craftsman, but above all, he wanted her to grow into a woman with a kind and rich heart.
Adriana had never once asked why she didn't have a mother.
Whether she vaguely sensed in her young heart that it was a topic she shouldn't broach, he didn't know.
But for all the love a mother might have given, Shuuki wanted to pour even more into his beloved daughter.