“A camera, huh...”
Having taken his leave of No. 700672, Jin hurried back to the laboratory as fast as he could.
“Jin-nii, you look like you’re having fun,” Elsa remarked, noting the lively spark in his eyes.
“Yeah. I could never quite figure out how to make photographic paper. I’m dying to know how this mechanism works. But first... let's give it a try.”
As he spoke, Jin pointed the Realism Machine at Elsa and pressed the button.
“Eh?”
Elsa stared back with a startled, wide-eyed expression.
When Jin pulled the photographic paper from the slot, Elsa’s face was clearly captured upon it.
“Oh, it’s working! It really works.”
The operation was remarkably similar to an instant camera.
“Let’s see... Hmm.”
The image quality was exceptional—truly a gift worthy of No. 700672.
“...Let me see that.”
Elsa practically snatched the photograph from Jin’s hand, her face flushing crimson the moment she saw it. There she was, looking utterly bewildered after having a camera suddenly thrust in her face.
“...You’re mean,” she pouted.
“Sorry, sorry. But you know, a natural expression like that is cute too, Elsa. No matter what face you’re making, you’re still you.”
“...Honestly.”
Told something like that, she found it impossible to stay angry. Elsa grumbled a soft complaint and tucked the photo away into her pocket.
“Ah, wait a second. I haven't had a chance to analyze it yet!” Jin cried out, frantically trying to retrieve the photo.
“...No.”
Elsa pressed her hand over her pocket, refusing to relinquish it.
Reiko, unable to stand by while the two bickered, offered a bit of advice.
“Father, why not simply take another one?”
“...Ah, right. Good point.”
“If I will suffice, please take as many as you wish.”
As Reiko puffed out her chest with pride, Elsa stepped in front of her, cutting her off.
“...Take one of me.”
Behind Elsa’s back, Reiko wore a triumphant smirk, though neither Jin nor Elsa noticed the look on her face.
Once Jin had captured a second photo—this time of Elsa looking much more composed—he immediately cast Analyze on the paper in his hand.
His face instantly lit up with astonishment.
“This is... I see! So that’s how they did it!”
However, his wonder was quickly replaced by a touch of frustration.
“Jin-nii?”
“Father?”
Seeing the worry on their faces, Jin let out a long breath.
“...No, it’s just that this pigment is actually a variation of magic dye. Ah, why didn't I think of that?!”
Standard magic dye changes color—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, and reddish-purple—depending on the amount of mana infused into it. However, Jin speculated that the version used here was capable of adjusting its density as well.
“It likely converts the wavelength of light into mana to determine the color, and the intensity of the light into mana to adjust the density. It’s an ingenious design.”
Jin continued his explanation, his voice still tinged with a hint of professional jealousy.
“I won’t be able to replicate it perfectly without further study, but the principle is exactly as I’ve described.”
Based on that principle, there was no need for a negative. It was the ultimate instant camera. If he could produce these photographs, it would be incredibly convenient for keeping records—especially for gathering data on the long-period planet.
Jin resolved right then and there to research this method, recreate it, and eventually move toward mass production.
＊ ＊ ＊
“Hmm. So the bottom line is that mana wavelength dictates color, while mana intensity dictates density...”
While he had successfully identified the characteristics of the magic dye, Jin had no idea where to find the raw materials for it. Existing magic dyes only covered the spectrum from red to reddish-purple, but the dye in the photographic paper seemed to possess color-rendering properties that mirrored the full visible light spectrum.
“Jin-nii, is this a biological material too?”
“Hmm, the chances are high.”
It was difficult to imagine a non-organic substance in nature possessing such specific properties.
“In that case, we should consult Master Goose,” Edgar suggested, a rare interjection from the golem.
“You’re right... Let’s go ask him. Saki would probably love this kind of research, too.”
With that decided, Jin took Reiko and headed for Saki’s house.
＊ ＊ ＊
“I’m in! I’m going right now!”
As expected, Saki was hooked the moment she heard the details.
As for Goose:
“...Hmm. Could it be... an Agama? No... maybe the Rayochiworm?”
“Do you know something, Goose?”
“Yeah. The pigment you’re talking about, Jin—it might be obtainable from the Rayochiworm.”
According to Goose, the Rayochiworm was the larva of an insect called the Launc, which lived deep in the mountains of Fusou Island.
“The larvae change color depending on the type of mana they encounter. The adults are beautiful butterflies with long, thread-like tails.”
“Heh... Do the butterflies change color too?”
“No. Their wing color is determined by whatever color they were as larvae—specifically, right before they pupate. They only change while they’re still caterpillars.”
“I see.”
“I believe there’s even a village that uses them for dye.”
This was excellent news.
“Do you think they’d let me have some?”
“Well... they aren’t exactly rare, so a small amount shouldn't be an issue, right?”
“Good.”
If they weren't abundant enough to support industrial use, Jin decided he would have to look into the possibility of farming them.
“Regardless, let’s go and see if we can get some.”
Jin stood up to leave, but Goose held out a hand.
“I’m coming too, obviously.”
Jin nodded without a word.
“Heh, then count me in as well!” Saki volunteered.
“Alright. We’ll head back to Hourai Island and set out on Konron 3.”
The group relocated to Hourai Island.
“I’m going too,” Elsa added. She wasn't about to be left behind.
In the end, with Edgar at the helm and Reiko serving as guard, the party—Jin, Elsa, Goose, and Saki—took off for Fusou Island aboard Konron 3.
Throughout the flight, Jin gave Goose and Saki a thorough, detailed technical briefing on the inner workings of the Realism Machine.