Jin and Elsa took a slow, relaxing break at "home." The following day, September 16, they—along with Reiko and Edgar—went to visit No. 700672.
"Oh, you have come. A warm welcome to you."
No. 700672 greeted them with his characteristic smile. Neige and Rouge stood by his side, almost as if huddling close to him.
"We've come today to tell you about our marriage—Elsa's and mine."
Jin spoke as he drew Elsa close, his hand resting on her shoulder.
"Oh, how wonderful. Allow me to offer my congratulations."
"Thank you very much."
Jin and Elsa bowed in unison.
"Now then, I expect that isn't the only reason for your visit?"
Once the greetings were finished and Jin had presented the customary gift of Persica juice, No. 700672 spoke up.
"Is there something you wish to ask me?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact, there is."
Jin told him about the galena they had discovered on Alcyone Island during their honeymoon—the specimen that appeared to have undergone molecular compression.
"Hmm..."
No. 700672 fell into deep, serious thought. Neither Jin nor Elsa wanted to interrupt him. Neige and Rouge also watched him in silence.
After five or ten minutes of thorough consideration, No. 700672 finally looked up.
"It may have been something produced during the process of terraforming."
"Terraforming?"
Jin repeated the word, taken aback by the unexpected answer.
"Indeed. I do not know the full details, but Ars was, after all, a planet to which the Masters migrated."
According to No. 700672, the history was as follows:
- When the Masters decided to migrate to Ars, they faced several issues.
- One major problem was that Ars had slightly less gravity than what the Masters were accustomed to.
- Consequently, the Masters modified the planet to provide it with gravity equivalent to their home world, Hale.
- This terraforming was carried out slowly over the course of centuries while monitoring the adaptation of local lifeforms.
- The modifications were performed by the Masters and the servants in the 100,000 to 300,000 range.
- Migration to Ars following the completion of these modifications also took place over centuries.
- No. 700672 did not possess data regarding any servants from the 500,000-series or earlier. Thus, he was unaware of the specific details of the terraforming.
"To think such a thing happened..."
"Even this is merely an inference I have drawn from the meager information available to me."
From the subtext of No. 700672's words, Jin sensed that there must have been gaps and divisions even among the golem servants.
"I suspect they injected heavy elements into the core to compensate for the lack of gravity. Perhaps that substance resembling molecularly compressed galena is a byproduct of such experiments."
No. 700672 reiterated that this was only a guess.
However, for Jin, it was an incredibly persuasive explanation.
"So the fact that this planet has such high gravity despite its small size really was the result of those modifications."
"Yes. There is no doubt that terraforming took place. But as I said, I do not know the exact methods, so it is strictly speculation."
Still, Jin found it a fascinating glimpse into the planet's formation.
"...Do you know how your Masters achieved molecular compression?"
Jin voiced the one question that remained.
"Only by way of imagination."
With that disclaimer, No. 700672 began to describe the possible method.
"One defines a target location and performs Multi-layered Stacked Compression Transfer."
"Multi-layered Stacked Compression Transfer?"
Jin asked, unfamiliar with the term.
"Multi-layered Stacked Compression Transfer is a magi-engineering technique developed by the Masters to generate high-density matter."
Jin listened with rapt attention.
"I was not told the specifics, but while layering matter upon matter increases density, actually achieving that in practice is difficult."
Even among servants, it seemed information was compartmentalized.
"It appears they generated a barrier that made it possible and then transferred matter into the interior of that barrier."
No. 700672 looked apologetic, stating he knew nothing beyond that.
"No, this was very helpful. Thank you."
Jin currently used compression barriers to achieve molecular compression through sheer force, but the Masters seemed to have a more sophisticated approach.
In Jin's current method, gaps were left after compression, and the total mass remained the same. To increase a planet's gravity, one would have to bring in matter from elsewhere and add it. While not strictly impossible with Jin's method, it would be far too labor-intensive.
"I imagine they increased the gravity to approximately double its original value."
"I see..."
Originally, the planet had been as heavy as adamantite, but its gravity had likely been around 0.5 G. They must have modified it to double that.
"I do not know how that affected other lifeforms. By the time I and my Master arrived, the gravity was already what it is today."
Then No. 700672 dropped an even bigger bombshell, suggesting that the terraforming might have been carried out as a test case tens of thousands of years before the actual migration began.
"Even I do not know the whole truth. In fact, compared to the 100,000-series, I effectively know nothing at all."
"I see..."
Jin's imagination began to run wild, wondering if this world had been shaped by those early servants and their Masters.
Thinking about it won't get me anywhere, though.
He recalled the sci-fi stories and anime from his time in Japan, thinking that this was exactly how the kernels of myths and legends were formed.
"By the way, what is the status of the long-period planet?"
No. 700672 seemed quite concerned about the matter.
"Yes, we've launched an observation rocket to investigate the details."
"Oh, that is excellent. After all, its period is incredibly long. It is a planet that travels a vast distance away before returning, so there is no guarantee its behavior will be identical to the last time."
"I suppose that's true..."
While the sun, Celane, was one of the foci of its highly elliptical orbit, it was unknown what existed near the other focus.
"I, too, am taking a few countermeasures, though they are but a small effort."
"And those are?"
"Small-scale gravity stabilizers and a massive barrier for gases."
No. 700672 explained that it was impossible to know the exact effects of the gravitational field when the long-period planet approached. Furthermore, it would be a catastrophe if the atmosphere were stripped away by the passing planet.
"You're right. I need to do something as well."
"In that case, Jin-dono, it would be best for you to accumulate ether. Above all else, energy is what will be required in an emergency."
"...I understand."
Jin knew he was right.
If he were to try and deploy a planetary-scale barrier, how many regular magi reactors would be needed? Jin couldn't even begin to fathom how many millions of times greater than Reiko's magi reactor that would require.
Regardless, securing a safe supply of energy would surely prove useful in many ways.
"I'll get to work on that immediately."
"Oh, I am sure you can do it, Jin-dono. I am counting on you."
No. 700672 added that he could not allow this world to be put in danger.
"I apologize to the Madam for speaking only of such heavy topics. I know—I would like you to accept a wedding gift from me."
No. 700672 went to the back of the room for a moment and returned holding a small, box-like object.
"I give this to the two of you. This is something called a Realism Machine."
"Wait, did you say a camera!?"
"Indeed. You look through here, point it at whatever you wish to capture, press this button, and after a short while, a sheet will emerge with a picture drawn exactly like what you saw."
It was indeed the camera Jin knew.
"As for the principle... No, I shall leave that for Jin-dono's own discovery."
"Thank you very much."
Jin accepted it with delight.
He had thought many times how useful a camera would be, but he had never been able to produce the necessary photographic paper. As he took the Realism Machine from No. 700672, Jin felt certain that by studying this, he could finally make it a reality.