Through the eyes of his Body Double (Jin D), Jin performed a Diagnose on Helente.
"Hmm, I'd say she’s at about seventy to eighty percent functional."
The seals on the outer joints had likely been insufficient, allowing the hydrochloric acid to seep inside and cause damage.
Since hydrogen chloride, the primary component of hydrochloric acid, was volatile, there were probably no residues left, but the damage remained.
Still, it wasn't the kind of malfunction that would cause an immediate shutdown, so he decided to monitor her for the time being.
Since they were in the heart of enemy territory, disassembling her for repairs was out of the question.
＊ ＊ ＊
"This way."
Helente led the group without a moment's hesitation.
The passage wound to the right and left, occasionally pulling a full 180-degree turn. There were countless side passages as well; without Helente’s guidance, they would have been hopelessly lost in the labyrinth.
"Is this maze part of the traps? No, wait..."
Jin D suddenly stopped and touched the floor.
"...Analyze. I see."
"What is it?"
Helente stopped and looked back. Jin D stood up and replied.
"I suspect these passages were built this way for a specific reason."
"What do you mean?"
"The way this corridor twists and turns bothered me. When I checked, I found conductors made of what looks like mithril embedded beneath the floor."
"And that means?"
"A section of this place is functioning as a massive magi-circuit."
"I see."
Jin considered the possibility that it was intended to amplify specific frequency bands of ether waves, but something still felt off.
"Even so, this layout shouldn't be possible..."
If it were circular like a magic circle, he could understand using it to circulate and strengthen power, but this circuit simply meandered.
"However, if we follow this circuit, it might lead us straight to our destination."
Helente shook her head.
"No, that is unlikely. The management magi-brain would never take such a risk."
"A risk?"
"Indeed. If a foreign magical charge were introduced into those mithril conductors, the management magi-brain would..."
"You have a point."
It would make its location easy to pinpoint and leave it vulnerable to lightning-type magic, she explained.
"For now, I'll disconnect it just in case."
Jin D placed his hand against the floor and invoked Craft Magic.
"Forming. Separation... There."
He broke it in an obvious manner so that it could be easily repaired later.
"This should give us a bit more peace of mind."
"Understood."
The party set off once more.
After five minutes of walking, a door appeared before them.
"What's this?"
"It is likely a relay point."
"A relay point?"
"A room designed to screen those who attempt to navigate these passages."
"So, a trap?"
Helente clarified.
"Not quite a trap. It is a checkpoint that can be passed if certain conditions are met."
"But there's no guarantee the settings haven't been tampered with."
"That is true."
"What happens if we can't meet the conditions?"
"According to my records, the door leading further inside simply remains locked, but..."
"I doubt it's still that benign."
Considering they had reached this point without interference, the probability of the room holding a nasty surprise was high.
"Well, we won't know unless we go in."
"Indeed."
"My Lord, I will enter first."
Land 11 stepped forward.
"I appreciate it. Go ahead."
"Yes, sir."
Jin D and Helente stepped back about five meters.
Land 11 pushed the door open and quickly scanned the interior.
"It appears to be empty."
There was no immediate ambush.
"Alright, let's head in. Land 11, step back outside and stay on standby. Keep watch in case something goes wrong."
"Understood."
With those precautions in place, Jin and the others stepped into the room.
The entrance door remained open, and for a moment, nothing happened.
The room was a simple square, roughly five meters on each side. There was another door on the opposite wall, which presumably served as the exit.
"Hmm, it's locked."
Jin D tried the handle, but it wouldn't budge. If he forced it, he suspected some kind of security system would trigger.
"We are still far from our goal. If possible, I'd prefer to pass through without causing a scene."
"I agree... but the question is how."
＊ ＊ ＊
Back on Hourai Island, Jin—who was remotely operating the Body Double—was also deep in thought.
"There must be a trigger to open it."
"My Lord, perhaps it won't react unless the entrance is closed."
"Ah, that's a possibility."
Currently, Land 11 was standing just outside the room to guard against an emergency.
"So, you're saying that if I bring Land 11 inside and close the door, the mechanism might trigger?"
"Yes. The probability is high."
"And that trigger might just as easily be for a trap."
"That is also a possibility."
Jin weighed his options for a moment.
"We have to move forward," he decided. "If things go south, we can always evacuate via the transporter."
He sent out the command.
On the magi-screen linked to the Body Double's vision, Jin watched as Land 11 stepped into the room and the door swung shut.
The instant the door clicked into place, patterns resembling ancient script surfaced on the exit door.
At the same time, the walls of the room ground into motion, sliding inward as if to crush the party to death.