Even before they could use the password, Helente suddenly bowed her head, leaving Sion and Marikka flustered and taken aback.
"E-Eh? W-What!?"
"W-What’s going on!?"
"...Those mana waves are the same as my Master's..."
Helente spoke while her head was still lowered. Since she was still hopelessly entangled in nets and ropes, the sight was incredibly surreal.
"U-Um..."
"Might I ask your name?"
"M-Me!?" Marikka stammered as Helente stared at her.
"Yes."
"I-It’s M-Marikka-deshu."
"Lady Marikka, then. I await your instructions."
"M-My instructions!?"
"Yes."
It was Marikka to whom Helente was now showing such profound respect.
"U-Um, do I... do I really look like the person you call your Master?"
"Yes."
"H-How so?"
"There are commonalities in your mana waves. Based on those commonalities, I have identified you as one of the commanders."
"One of the commanders?"
"Yes."
"..."
Jin, who had been listening to the exchange from the side, was busy analyzing the situation.
As he had suspected, the demon race did indeed inherit the blood of the Progenitors quite strongly. Furthermore, servant golems like Helente used mana waves for individual identification. In Helente's case, she likely identified specific characteristics within those mana waves to make her judgment.
The important distinction here was that she was "one of the commanders," not "the commander." It was highly likely that the person who was—or had been—giving orders to Helente on Onogoro Island was also "one of the commanders."
How much could Helente be made to do in her capacity as "one of the commanders"? Jin called Marikka over to a spot away from the golem.
"W-What is it, Jin-sama?"
"This is something I can only ask of you, Marikka, since you’re one of the commanders."
"Yes."
"I want you to ask Helente to let us see her control core."
"Her... control core?"
Jin nodded and began to explain in detail.
"There is an anomaly in her memory storage, and if she isn't aware of it herself, we need to suspect the control core first. It might be malfunctioning."
"Ah, I see."
"Even if I were to tell her that, she wouldn't listen to me. That's why I want to ask you, Marikka."
"I-I understand. I'll give it a try."
Once Marikka was convinced, the two returned to Helente’s side.
"Miss Helente."
"Yes."
"U-Um, would you let us check your control core?"
"In that case, the password will be required."
"U-Um... 'Ab ovo usque ad mala.'...Will that work?"
"Accepted."
The approval came much more easily than expected.
"However, I refuse to leave this to others. If Lady Marikka performs the inspection herself, I will permit it."
"..."
Marikka glanced at Jin’s face. Jin gave her a reassuring nod.
"I-I understand. Um..."
After learning Craft Magic, Marikka had once inspected all the golems handed down within the All-Creation clan. She decided to proceed with the work on the assumption that this unit followed the same principles.
"Well then... I’m going to open it up. Is it all right if I don’t put you in Stand Still... mode?"
"Please proceed as I am."
"I understand... Open."
(Oh?)
Watching from behind, Jin was impressed by how much Marikka had grown. Compared to when he first started teaching her in the demon territory, her technique had improved by several levels.
The top of the head, which had a mohawk-style protrusion, opened up.
(I see, so that part serves to protect the crown and increase its structural strength. I wonder what the Predecessor would have thought if she saw a golem of this model...)
Jin fell into thought for a moment.
"Wait..."
"Is something wrong?"
"Jin-sama, this... this is the control core, right?"
"Hmm?"
Marikka looked back at Jin with a puzzled expression. Snapping out of his thoughts, Jin looked at what Marikka was pointing at.
"Huh? What is this?"
"Is something the matter?" Helente asked.
"It looks like there’s something strange stuck to the control core..." Marikka explained.
"Marikka, here, use this."
Sion, being a young girl herself, pulled a hand mirror from her pocket and handed it over. Marikka held it up so Helente could see the reflection.
"Wha—!? What is this...!!"
Suddenly, Helente began to struggle violently.
"W-What on earth is happening!?"
"Marikka, get back."
Jin moved Marikka away and gave Reiko an instruction to use the Magic Canceller.
"Yes, Father."
Hit by the waves of the Magic Canceller emitted from Reiko's bracelet, Helente’s movements ceased. With the golem stabilized, Jin took another look at the control core.
"Wait. This... have I seen this somewhere?"
"Father, this looks like the thing that was attached to the magi-brain of the megafloat we saw through the Peeping Telescope," Reiko noted.
"Ah, you’re right."
This one was much smaller, but a dark, boil-like growth was clinging to the control core.
"Ten to one, this is the cause. Let's remove it."
"Father, allow me."
"Right. Reiko, be careful."
"Yes."
To ensure there was no danger to Jin, Reiko reached out in his place and pinched the growth.
"...It is soft."
"Oh?"
It was a reaction unique to Reiko and her tactile sense. Despite its appearance, the growth was not hard.
"I will remove it now."
Reiko peeled the growth away.