They decided to hold the match at the training grounds located between the third and fourth walls.
While the venue for the Gonpetition was also situated between the third and fourth walls, the two sites were a considerable distance from one another. They had deliberately chosen a spot as far from residential areas as possible.
"This is the center of the training grounds," King Cesar said. "It is far from any houses, so even if there are a few mishaps, we shouldn't see any civilian casualties."
King Cesar was accompanied by Kirk-at, the Captain of the Royal Guard; Lagede, the First Military Minister; and Latant, the Chief of the First Ministry of Technology.
Jin (via his Doppel) brought Steward, while Jix arrived with Phantom. Elsa (via her Doppel) was also present. Notably, Donald had not joined them.
"Brother!" a voice called out as a carriage arrived.
"Allow me to introduce my younger brother, Gunno," Jix said.
A single, dull-colored golem was riding in the back of the carriage.
"Please, observe," Jix continued. "As you can see, we are capable of quickly preparing another golem of the same model as Phantom."
"Hmm, I see. I shall acknowledge that as an advantage," Chief of the First Ministry of Technology Latant noted with a nod.
Jix gave Gunno a brief rundown of what had transpired so far.
"Brother! So, if you win this match, our long-held ambition will finally be realized?"
"In a manner of speaking, yes. It is only the first step, but it will at least ensure that our golems are officially adopted by the kingdom."
"Good luck, then!"
"I know what's at stake."
With everyone assembled, the mock battle was finally ready to begin.
"As requested, we have provided iron rods for weapons. Will these be sufficient?" First Military Minister Lagede asked, checking with both parties.
"Yes. Blades would be far too dangerous, and wooden rods would lack the necessary durability," Jin (via his Doppel) replied. For safety's sake, he cast Toughening on the rods.
Steward and Phantom each took up their iron weapons.
"It will be dangerous, so please step back at least fifty meters," Jin (via his Doppel) cautioned King Cesar and the others. They all nodded and complied.
King Cesar took it upon himself to give the starting signal.
"Very well... begin!"
Phantom lunged forward instantly, unleashing a strike as fast as a bolt of lightning. Steward, however, evaded the blow with practiced ease.
Phantom immediately gave chase, moving even faster than it had during the previous mock battle.
"So, he’s finally getting serious," Jin (via his Doppel) murmured.
But Steward was still far from showing its true potential. Its speed increased sharply, a change clearly visible even to the observers.
"Let’s see which is superior," Jin muttered to himself on Hourai Island, his eyes fixed on the magi-screen. "Technology from five hundred years ago, or technology from a thousand years ago plus modern Japan."
"It's the Fluid Form Drive versus the Adriana-style!"
Having spent the day as a mere spectator, Jin seemed to be venting some of his pent-up stress.
"Steward, once you’ve finished analyzing your opponent’s repertoire, you have permission to go at full power."
Hearing this, Elsa turned to Jin with a question. "Jin-nii, won't the opponent learn from it?"
Jin replied with a confident smile. "It'll be fine. I've limited its combat style to that of a Shouro Empire soldier. I’m only going to ramp up the speed and power. They won't be able to copy that, will they?"
"...True."
While techniques could be mimicked, raw physical performance was a different matter entirely. Jin was challenging them on the level of fundamental specs.
"Ohh!"
"Your Majesty! Please, step back a little further!"
The aftereffects of the clash between the two golems began to reach the spectators fifty meters away. Captain of the Royal Guard Kirk-at urgently advised his sovereign to put more distance between himself and the fight.
"Y-yes, let us do that."
Jin and Elsa (via their Doppels) moved back along with them. Since they could observe the fight perfectly as long as they had a line of sight, they simply followed King Cesar’s lead.
Meanwhile, Jix and Gunno watched the battle while positioned behind their second golem for protection.
"B-brother, it’s incredible."
"Indeed. I wondered how much a Magi Craft Meister was truly capable of, but this is not to be underestimated."
"Do we need to use 'that'?"
"I'm not sure yet. Have it ready, just in case."
"Understood."
The intensity of the battle between Steward and Phantom only continued to escalate. Iron rods clashed against one another, sending sparks flying. One moment they were locked in a test of strength; the next, they would spring apart and collide again in an instant. Fine gravel sprayed into the air with every step, and the ground beneath their feet began to crater.
"To think this is a 'match'!"
"The earlier 'mock battle' looks like child's play by comparison."
"There truly is always a higher peak to climb."
King Cesar and his ministers watched with expressions that wavered between awe and pure dread.
"Still, I wonder what its power source is?"
On Hourai Island, Jin tilted his head in thought. If the enemy could keep up with Steward, which was equipped with a magi reactor, for this long, there was a high probability it had at least an ether converter.
Then, Elsa voiced a sudden hypothesis. "Maybe the fluid metal can store mana?"
"Eh?"
Jin blinked in surprise for a moment, but as the implications sank in, he began to consider it seriously. At the same time, Laojun began running a verification.
"There's a possibility of that."
『Yes, My Lord. I believe the probability is quite high.』
"As I thought?"
"Yeah. That’s brilliant, Elsa."
Jin praised Elsa for reaching the correct conclusion through her intuition and experience.
"I’m happy... if I could be of help."
It was a simple matter to magically process a magi-crystal to create a mana tank. The gaps in the crystal structure were highly compatible with mana. Much like how diatomaceous earth absorbs moisture or oils, or how activated carbon adsorbs fine particles, these structures could absorb and release mana.
However, ordinary metals did not possess such properties—not even magi-isotopes.
So, why did Elsa suggest that fluid metal could store mana? Her reasoning was an inference based on the amalgam experiments Jin had conducted recently.
"That's it, isn't it, Elsa?"
"Mm."
In other words, just as mercury dissolves other metals into an amalgam, she theorized that the mysterious fluid metal might be able to 'dissolve' or store mana.
"Since fluid metal reacts to magic, I thought... it might be possible."
Elsa’s intuition was incredibly sharp.
"But first, we have to win this match."
Since they couldn't verify the theory for the moment, Jin turned his full attention back to the battle unfolding before him.