“This ‘Lance’ unit utilizes an Ether Converter and a Mana Driver.”
While the other golems relied on Mana Tank technology, it was clear from this alone that Lance’s construction was in a league of its own.
“Not that it necessarily makes him strong, though...”
This was evident not only from the fact that he couldn't initiate attacks himself, but also because he had been broken by an blow from a lower-spec opponent. Strength and durability didn't always go hand-in-hand with sophisticated structure or high-end materials.
As Jin repaired Lance while explaining this to Elsa, she chimed in.
“...Jin-nii’s creations are an exception.”
Reiko nodded deeply beside her in agreement.
“Now then, the structure is an endoskeleton, similar to the Predecessor’s style. However, there’s a bit of unnecessary redundancy.”
“Jin-nii, what do you mean by redundancy?”
In response to Elsa’s question, Jin pointed to a specific section to explain.
“You should be able to see it, Elsa. It mimics the human skeleton more than necessary. Look at the ribs, for example.”
“Ah, you’re right.”
While such a structure is vital for humans who breathe with lungs, it actually presented a disadvantage for an automata by reducing its overall structural integrity.
“But...”
“But?”
“I think the person who made Lance was trying to create an automata that was as close to a ‘human’ as possible.”
“I think I understand that.”
Elsa nodded at Jin’s observation.
“However, humans aren't exactly the pinnacle of biological design.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, walking upright was great because it freed our hands for fine motor skills. That led to brain development, which was a plus, but it also came with a heavy price: back pain, stomach ptosis, and even difficult births.”
“...I see. That makes sense.”
None of those issues were typically found in four-legged mammals.
Upon confirming that the spine had the exact same number of vertebrae as a human and that the pelvis was the same shape, Jin and Elsa truly felt the creator’s obsession with the human form.
Back when Jin lived in modern Japan, he had always been part of the ‘motorized faction’ when it came to models. Whether it was ships, automobiles, or tanks, he preferred toys that actually moved. However, he knew that on the other side of the hobby, there were those who were fixated on how precisely they could replicate the real thing.
Jin imagined that the creator of Lance must have been someone with that exact mindset.
“He probably prioritized the aesthetic finish over raw performance.”
Thinking about it that way made Jin even more curious about what kind of person the creator had been.
“The muscles are also arranged to match a human’s as closely as possible.”
Furthermore, even the internal organs were made to resemble human anatomy more closely than any golem’s.
“Quite the fixation... Personally, I can’t overlook the fact that the performance drops because of it.”
While Jin was impressed by the dedication, he couldn't quite empathize with the design philosophy.
“Still, I have to admit the craftsmanship is excellent. The level of completion is higher than any golem or automata I’ve seen to date.”
“Excluding Father, of course?”
“Does that mean... even more so than Elena?”
Reiko and Elsa asked their questions almost simultaneously.
“Yeah. Though I say so myself... the workmanship is better than Elena’s.”
While their outward appearances might be of similar quality, Jin analyzed that due to the difference between an adult male model and a young girl model, Lance likely possessed more raw power than Elena.
“It’s because his muscle tissue is made from Sham Dragon,” Jin noted as the basis for his conclusion.
If Sham Dragons existed in this region, they would likely be found in the northern reaches of the Kruger Mountains. The fact that the creator could travel that far and harvest such materials was proof of extraordinary technical skill in itself.
“Anyway, let’s get the repairs finished.”
Jin proceeded to fix the torn-off arm and the bent leg at a rapid pace.
“Still, this ‘amorphous’ metal has a strange feel to it.”
Jin voiced his impressions regarding the tactile sensation of this new material under the influence of Craft Magic.
“Is it that different?”
“Yeah. It’s sort of tenacious—viscous, almost....Do you want to try?”
“Mm.”
Jin decided to let Elsa, who seemed interested, handle the correction of the bent leg.
“‘Forming’... Ah, I see what you mean.”
“Right?”
It wasn’t that it was difficult to shape, but rather that there was a unique ‘resistance’ when it deformed.
“I don’t think I’ll be using it myself, though.”
Saying so, Jin finished repairing all the remaining components.
“There, that should do it.”
“Jin-nii, the Magi Machines inside were different too. Were you able to understand all of them?”
“Yeah, I figured them out.”
“As expected of Father!”
Reiko praised him unreservedly, while Elsa watched with a look of astonishment.
“The lungs act as the Ether Converter. The heart is the Mana Driver. The liver serves as an emergency Mana Tank.”
“Mm, I understand that much.”
“The stomach and intestines make pseudo-eating possible.”
This was a function also present in Reiko and the other Hourai Island automata.
“The spleen is a magic tool for attack magic. The kidneys are magic tools for Healing magic.”
It seemed the creator hadn't been able to assign every single human function to a corresponding component, but even this was an incredible feat.
“So the Control Core is in the head?”
“That’s right. Personally, I think it’s far too vulnerable there.”
On top of that, it faced the problem of distance parity when transmitting commands to the limbs. The arrival time for signals would vary slightly between the arms and the legs. Of course, this was a subtle technicality that would only become a problem at the absolute limits of speed.
“But it might be better for quickly processing visual information,” Elsa suggested.
“Yeah, there is that. Every design has its pros and cons.”
However, thinking of how a body might fail to move in extreme situations despite the eyes seeing the danger, Jin preferred to emphasize balance. ‘Maintain moderation while pursuing the pinnacle’ was Jin’s motto.
Naturally, there were exceptions. Jin was neither so narrow-minded nor so stubborn as to refuse to acknowledge the merit in other approaches.
“Now then, that’s that.”
The repairs were complete, returning the unit almost exactly to its original state. If it were his own golem or one belonging to someone very close to him, Jin would have used this opportunity to perform an ‘overhaul’ in the name of maintenance, but he exercised restraint this time. It was more accurate to say he was still gauging the nature of his relationship with Lance.
“‘Wake up《Levetoa》.’”
Lance opened his eyes.
“Oh, I am truly repaired. Moreover, I feel in slightly better condition than before. Lady Reiko, it was just as you said.”
Jin was secretly impressed that Lance had pronounced ‘Reiko’ with such natural, native inflection. It meant the processing power of the Control Core—his brain—was quite high.
“Lord Jin, you have my gratitude.”
Lance bowed his head toward Jin.
“No, don't worry about it. And... well, Reiko, why don't you ask him?”
“Yes, Father....Mr. Lance, will you guide us to the place where you were created?”
“If that is your wish.”
As expected, Lance gave his consent quite easily.
“Then, please do so once dawn breaks.”
“Understood.”
Local time was still around 2:00 AM. Jin suggested that Elsa take a nap.
“But I have to check on Edgar.”
“I’ll take care of him. It’s bad for your health if you don’t get some sleep.”
With Jin being so insistent, Elsa found she couldn't refuse.
“All right. I’ll do that.”
Elsa went to take a nap inside the Konron 3. In the meantime, Jin performed the necessary maintenance on Edgar.