In the year 2404, at the age of sixty-four, Adriana departed from Mitsuho, the land of foreign tribes where she had lived for twenty years.
Her destination was the Leonard Kingdom at the eastern edge of the continent.
Though she remained sprightly and in good health thanks to the scientific knowledge inherited from her father, Shuuki, and her use of Healing magic, she had recently begun to feel that her memories of her beloved father were occasionally growing faint.
"In my final years... I want to be near the land where Father sleeps."
With that wish in her heart, Adriana set out on a day in July, accompanied by six golems: M-033, 034, 035, F-033, 034, and 035.
From the perspective of the people of Mitsuho, she was heading into foreign lands. She departed with no companions other than her golems, yet the people of Mitsuho saw her off warmly.
"Adriana, please come back and visit us someday!"
"We'll always be waiting for you!"
"Thank you. Yes, surely... someday."
By this time, one of her research achievements, the Warp Gate, had been completed in its definitive form, security features and all. Once installed, it would allow her to visit Mitsuho in an instant. Adriana made her way toward the Leonard Kingdom, installing these Warp Gates in inconspicuous locations or under the care of trusted friends along the way.
However, twenty years was more than enough time for the world to change.
In the Garandora Kingdom, while national power had grown, the influence of the Church had become overwhelming. Magi affiliated with the Church now dominated society. The commoners, who could not use magic, were oppressed and exploited.
(...This is why I hate religion,) Adriana thought, the words a silent, bitter spit in her mind.
"Are you staying the night? Er, are you affiliated with the Church?" the innkeeper asked, his attitude obsequious and fearful.
"No, I am just a traveler," Adriana replied.
When she said this, the man's face brightened just a little.
(...A religion that makes people wear faces like that.)
But Adriana no longer had the spirit left in her to try and fix the world. She simply stayed the night, ate her meals, and continued her journey.
In the Garandia Kingdom, which she passed through next, she was met with a shocking sight.
"...What is this?"
The towns were overflowing with vagrants. When she casually asked an innkeeper about the situation, she received a grim answer.
"Inexpensive golems flooded the market. Because of that, people have been losing their jobs left and right."
"!"
To Adriana, it was a bolt from the blue.
(Golems are stealing their livelihoods... I never intended for that to happen.)
＊ ＊ ＊
"I'm just... not okay with that," Sion muttered with a pout. "That isn't Lady Adriana's fault."
Jin agreed. "No. The Predecessor's intent wasn't wrong. The responsibility lies with the leadership—those who simply allowed the technology to spread without providing any social guidance or clear roadmap for what humans should do once they had cheap labor."
In fact, in Mitsuho, they were currently building a society that did not rely too heavily on such golems.
"I-I suppose you're right."
"Besides, golems don't pay taxes," Jin added.
Productivity in primary and secondary industries—like agriculture, mining, and manufacturing—might have increased due to inexpensive Stone Golems. However, the tertiary sector could not reap those same benefits, leading to a warped social structure. One result was the mass migration to cities, which led to unemployment and the rise of vagrancy.
"There's almost nothing written about this in the records. She must have been deeply troubled by it."
"Even though it wasn't the Lady Predecessor's fault..."
Jin offered a wry smile to the still-unsatisfied Sion and continued the story.
＊ ＊ ＊
"How tragic..."
Realizing she no longer had the power to change the status quo on her own, the aging Adriana hurried through the various nations.
Many things happened during her travels.
"Oh, look at this easy target! Hey, old woman, if you value your life, leave your money and luggage and—gafhk!"
"Who are you calling an old woman!"
Her six accompanying golems protected Adriana perfectly.
"How incredibly rude."
She was targeted by bandits once or twice more, but the six golems repelled them without difficulty.
Eventually, she reached the northern Leonard Kingdom. She searched for the village where Kururu and Maruru had lived, but it was nowhere to be found. She was told that a war had broken out a decade earlier and the small village had been wiped out.
What discouraged Adriana even more was the news that Stone Golems had been used in that conflict.
"Golems used for war... How could they..."
Sending cheap Stone Golems to the front lines allowed an army to trample human infantry. Unless they faced high-ranking magi, nothing could stop a march of Stone Golems.
"...I'm so tired."
Unable to find her old friends and acquaintances, she dragged her heavy feet until she reached the eastern tip of the Leonard Kingdom—what is now called Magus Cape. It was late November, and winter was fast approaching.
"Father... I've come home."
After greeting Shuuki's monument, Adriana gazed out over the sea. From the heights of Magus Cape, she could see the small island where Shuuki was buried: Tsetse Island.
"Perhaps I... should live on a remote island as well."
As she watched the vast ocean, the thought took root. Since she had her Warp Gates, returning to the continent wouldn't be an issue. What she wanted was a quiet place for seclusion and retirement.
Using whatever materials she had on hand, Adriana built a boat and set out to sea. Her first stop was the island where her father, Shuuki, was laid to rest.
"Ah, you two have been functioning properly."
The aging woman was greeted by two automata. They were the units she had crafted in the likeness of her father, Shuuki Tsetse, and her own younger self.
"I've certainly grown old..."
Looking at the automata that bore her eighteen-year-old likeness, Adriana gave a lonely smile. She then used every bit of her technical skill to perform a complete maintenance overhaul on them.
"Even after I am gone, please continue to protect this island. I'm counting on you."
"Yes, Adriana-sama."
"I leave it to you."
After installing a Warp Gate there, Adriana used the materials she had stored on the island to reinforce and refit her ship before heading back out to sea.
Whether blessed by the currents or the strength of her golems, the voyage proceeded smoothly. Five days later, she spotted the silhouette of an island.
"That island looks promising."
That island was the current Hourai Island.
"It's more than enough for one person to live on. Besides, for some reason, the free ether here seems to be a bit dense."
Landing on the nameless isolated island, Adriana found a suitable patch of level ground, built a hut, and installed a Warp Gate.
"With this, I can go back and forth to the continent whenever necessary."
This was a major turning point. Adriana decided to build a laboratory here.
"Someday... yes, it would be wonderful if I could make this place a 'sacred ground for magi-craft'..."
Dreaming of such a day, she set out to construct a large facility. Manpower was not an issue; in addition to her six golems, she had the technology to create Stone Golems.
A survey of the island's underground revealed it was rich in mineral resources. She began quarrying stone for construction while simultaneously securing raw materials.
"Ah, this is fun. It reminds me of the old days."
As she built her laboratory, Adriana found herself reminiscing about the days of her youth, when she had burned with hope.