"I’ve wanted to have a proper chat with you, Jin!"
Jin, Reiko, Ernest, Lyla, Lieschen, and Gloria were gathered in the Hall of Five Virtues.
The room featured wooden floors and was furnished with tables and chairs, arranged specifically to accommodate those unaccustomed to sitting on the floor. Following local custom, the guests had been asked to remove their shoes before entering.
Jin, Ernest, and Lieschen were seated, while Reiko, Lyla, and Gloria stood dutifully behind their respective masters. Three glasses sat upon the table, filled with chilled, lightly carbonated citran juice.
"Finally, we can talk at leisure, Jin."
"Indeed. I suppose it has been quite some time—perhaps not since the Technology Expo in the Shouro Empire?"
At Jin’s words, a flash of dissatisfaction crossed Ernest’s face.
"Hey now, Jin. Speak to me the way you speak to Lies, won't you? And I’d prefer it if you called me Nest."
Since it had been a while since their last meeting, Jin had been struggling to gauge the appropriate level of familiarity. He was honestly grateful for the suggestion.
"All right... Nest. Is that better?"
"Yeah!"
Prince Ernest’s face lit up. He drained his glass of citran juice in a single draught.
"Refill, please."
Topaz 88, who was standing by, immediately stepped forward to pour more juice.
"If you drink too much, you won't have any room for dinner," Jin cautioned.
"This is my last glass, I promise," Nest replied.
"By the way, Jin—this 'Hall of Five Virtues,' was it? The clothes the golems here are wearing are quite interesting, indeed."
"Ah. Those are traditional garments from the Magus's homeland."
"The Magus?"
"Ah..."
Jin had invoked the name of the Magus as a convenient shield; if he had said the clothes were from his own home or called them "kimono," he wouldn't have been able to provide any further explanation. However, he had momentarily forgotten that information regarding the Magus was not yet public knowledge.
"Well..."
As Jin scrambled to think of a plausible explanation, Refa, the Okami of the house, stepped forward.
"Your Highness, the 'Magus' is a legendary figure from over a thousand years ago. It is said he traveled throughout this continent, dedicated to the advancement of culture."
"Oh?"
"I see..."
The explanation piqued the interest of both Ernest and Lieschen.
"For some reason, however, his name is almost entirely unknown within the Allied Kingdoms. Conversely, in Mitsuho, he is revered as a great man."
"Mitsuho?...Ah, that’s the country to the west of the Shouro Empire, isn't it?"
As expected of royalty, Ernest recognized the name.
"Precisely. The Shouro Empire is set to formally establish diplomatic relations with them soon. My master and his companions are familiar with the name because they have visited Mitsuho themselves."
"I see, so that is how it was, indeed."
Refa concluded by explaining that Mitsuho also featured architecture similar to the Hall of Five Virtues and landscapes like the Garden of Five Virtues.
"Once we have a better understanding of the Magus, I might make a formal announcement," Jin added, attempting to smooth things over. "Sharing vague information would only cause confusion."
"That is true, indeed."
"Hmm, I'm looking forward to it. By the way, Jin—about your golems and the golems belonging to Deus Ex Machina..."
Satisfied with that topic, Prince Ernest pivoted the conversation.
"Is it because you share the same master? They seem remarkably similar."
"...Yeah, I suppose it’s obvious to you."
When it came to golems, Ernest possessed a sharp intuition.
"Of course it is. And as I mentioned before, I want to try my hand at crafting golems and automata myself someday."
"Ah, I remember you saying something like that."
Jin recalled Ernest making that declaration during the Golem Party in the Kingdom of Egerea, while watching Jin perform repairs on Lotte, Ernest's personal golem.
"Could you teach me? Even just a little bit?"
"I don't mind, but since we’re short on time, it really will be only the basics..."
"That’s fine. Lies is here too, so I can't expect you to just cater to my whims all day."
Ernest’s words showed a growing consideration for Princess Lieschen.
"Lord Nest, thank you for your kindness."
Sitting beside him, Lieschen looked delighted, a shy smile playing on her lips.
"In that case, while Nest and I talk shop, perhaps Refa could keep Lies company?"
"Jin, that would be most pleasing, indeed."
It was a thoughtful gesture on Jin's part; since Refa was the same model as the wet nurse automaton, Tia, he suspected they would have much to discuss.
"Shall we start with a question-and-answer format?" Jin suggested.
Ernest nodded eagerly. "Yeah! That works for me."
"Then, ask away," Jin said, leaning back in his chair.
"The thing I'm most curious about right now is golem 'education.'"
Ernest had gone straight to the heart of the matter.
"Golems don't move properly unless you educate them, right? That’s why it’s so difficult to produce them in large numbers."
"That's exactly right."
By this point, Jin could already predict where Ernest’s line of questioning was headed.
"But Maquina and you have both produced so many golems. Is there some sort of secret to it?"
"Let's see..."
Jin took a moment to consider his explanation. Then, he spoke slowly.
"Basic movements are inscribed into the control core as a control system, which takes the form of a magi-formula. You understand this part, right?"
"Yeah," Ernest nodded. He clearly understood the fundamentals of golem construction.
"These control systems often include unique flourishes from the magi craftsman, which can help identify who created them."
"Ah, so that’s why your golems and Maquina’s are so similar. Because you were taught by the same person!"
"Exactly."
Jin himself could tell that "Jin’s golems" and "Maquina’s golems" were actually made by the same hand, but that was a distinction most—if not all—other magi craftsmen would fail to make. Yet, Ernest showed a flash of talent that suggested he might one day see the truth.
"To return to your question: the more you refine and expand those control systems, the more sophisticated the golem’s movements become."
"That makes sense. But—"
Jin raised a hand to pause Ernest’s follow-up.
"Wait. There is a craft magic called Decompile. It allows you to read the information written in a control core as a magi-formula. Now, can you think of a way to use that?"
Jin looked Ernest directly in the eye.
"Eh?...Umm..."
Ernest fell silent, deep in thought. It didn't take him long.
"Ah! I've got it! You decompile the control core of a finished golem, and then you write that same magi-formula into the others!"
"Correct."
In truth, this was the method employed by top-tier magi craftsmen. One could even say that Trans Info was originally developed to bypass the tedious manual labor of decompiling and writing, allowing for the direct transfer of information.
It was an advancement similar to computer interfaces. Long ago, inputting image data required a digitizer, outputting that data to punched tape, and then feeding that tape into a reader—an incredibly labor-intensive process. Modern interfaces allowed for the exchange of vast amounts of data in seconds. The Trans Info magic developed by the first Magi Craft Meister, Adriana, possessed that same revolutionary value.
However, decompiling the control core of a masterwork golem was not a feat just anyone could achieve. It required either instantaneous memory or an intuitive grasp of complex logic. That was the line that separated the elite from the average.
When Jin explained this to Ernest, the prince gave an incredibly positive response.
"Then I’ll just have to work twice as hard!"
Listening to those words, Jin felt certain that this prince would one day become a first-rate magi craftsman.