『It was a success.』
"Yeah, looks like we made it in time."
On the magi-screen located on the central bridge of the Adriana, a sphere formed by the fusion of two hemispherical barriers was projected.
Strictly speaking, it wasn't a perfect sphere.
The barriers projected by the Castor and the Pollux weren't exact hemispheres; they were parabolic—more like bell-shaped barriers with slightly flared openings.
Jin had regained enough composure for such trivial technicalities to occupy the corner of his mind.
"Things must be quite disastrous inside that barrier."
『Yes, My Lord. Since the free ether within has likely been entirely converted into light, the current ether density inside is almost certainly zero.』
"That sounds about right."
『We shall transport it into outer space as is and then deactivate the containment.』
"That's for the best."
Jin agreed; it would be far too dangerous if any lingering effects of the Ether Stampede remained.
The Castor and the Pollux synchronized their speeds and began their ascent toward space. It was a display of precision maneuvering that only golem-controlled flight could achieve.
As they rose, they maintained a solid barrier around the Castor, the Pollux, and the captured enemy airship to prevent internal decompression.
Fifteen minutes later, the two spaceships reached satellite orbit. Their position was on the exact opposite side of Ars from the Adriana. This was a safety measure orchestrated by Laojun to ensure Jin remained far beyond any potential blast radius. Jin accepted the precaution without complaint.
『Now, deactivating the hemispherical barriers.』
"Do it."
Jin watched the magi-screen on the bridge intently.
Against the pitch-black void of space, he could see the Castor, the Pollux, and the large sphere that enveloped the combined barriers. The outermost layer was a solid barrier designed to maintain one atmosphere of pressure and shield the interior from cosmic rays.
『Now... deactivating.』
With the containment gone, Guillermo Marukitasu's flagship stood exposed.
"Seeing it like this, it really does look like a spaceship."
Though his view through the solid barrier was slightly blurred, Jin found himself debating whether to describe the vessel as cigar-shaped, teardrop-shaped, or perhaps more like a capsule.
『Beginning internal investigation.』
Laojun used a Peeping Telescope to scan the interior of the soaring ship. A minute later, the report came in.
『My Lord, there are no biological lifeforms aboard the captured enemy vessel.』
"What? What about Marukitasu?"
『We found only an automaton equivalent to a Doppel.』
"A Doppel... He's a cautious one."
『Indeed. Alternatively, it is possible his physical body has aged to the point where he can no longer move freely.』
"I see. That would explain a lot."
『How shall we proceed?』
"Well..."
Jin took a moment to think. Regardless of the current situation, a direct confrontation with Guillermo Marukitasu was inevitable.
"First, let's examine the captured ship."
It was a prime opportunity to gauge the opponent's level of technology.
『Understood. We shall begin at once.』
Since the ship was already in space, it was simplest to conduct the inspection on-site.
"He captured and dismantled two of my Quinta units, so now we're finally even," Jin remarked.
He decided to leave the investigation to the Space Force golems—the Cosmos units—who served as the crew for the Castor and Pollux.
Then, accompanied by Reiko, Jin used the Warp Gate to depart the Adriana and return to Hourai Island.
＊ ＊ ＊
"...Ugh... U-uuh... Where...?"
<Are you awake, Lord Marukitasu?>
"This place... I see. I had transferred my consciousness into a Slavedoll until now."
<Yes. How are you feeling?>
Golbart Marukitasu—better known as Guillermo Marukitasu—lay upon a bed. A magi-device was fitted over his head, completely obscuring his face.
"...Passable, I suppose. Though my body is as wretched as ever."
<Understood. Waking up the next Slavedoll.>
A Slavedoll was a technology similar to the Doppels created by Jin. It allowed a pilot to transfer their consciousness into a proxy body via a magi-device, enabling them to act as if they were physically present. It was a technique originally developed by the Progenitors.
Unlike a Doppel, which shared consciousness, a Slavedoll involved a total transfer. However, any pain or shock suffered by the proxy was not transmitted back to the pilot.
A second Slavedoll standing beside the bed jerked into motion. An assistant automata provided a new report.
<Lord Marukitasu, it appears the soaring ship has been captured.>
"...So it seems."
The Slavedoll spoke the words. The real Marukitasu was now so frail that he could no longer sit up; he was forced to use these Slavedoll proxies to pursue his ambitions.
These assistant automata had been the ones to construct his Slavedolls. He had discovered these twenty-three high-spec units in the ruins beneath Mount Nakyu. They were in pristine condition, and Guillermo—who went by Golbart Marukitasu at the time—had claimed every one of them for himself.
Ensuring their loyalty had been remarkably easy; they were programmed simply to serve whoever activated them.
<Master, please provide your name.>
"It is Marukitasu."
<Repeating: Lord Marukitasu. From this moment forth, Lord Marukitasu is registered as Master.>
These twenty-three units were incredibly capable. It was through their surveillance that Marukitasu had known about Jin's reclamation of Kunlun Island and Nostalgia's recapture of Kashimnole Base. Though Marukitasu typically felt no need for companions, he was genuinely grateful for the existence of these assistant automata.
Through them, he continued to siphon knowledge from the ancient world.
"According to the information we extracted from those two Quinta units, these golems were crafted by our ancestors, the Progenitors," Marukitasu mused while watching the assistant automata report.
The Progenitors had possessed a civilization far more advanced than the current world, yet as a race, they had vanished.
"As I thought, the ultimate destination of any material civilization is ruin."
Marukitasu felt the weight of that truth once more.
"Losing one assistant automata is regrettable, but I still have twenty-two left."
One had been aboard the flagship when it was captured by Deus Ex Machina.
Now, it was time to check the progress on another front. One of the remaining twenty-two units, currently assigned to base operations, approached with a report.
<Lord Marukitasu. The combat golems dispatched to overrun Taji Village and Fan Village have engaged in combat with the golems of Nostalgia.>
"What? Those Nostalgia pests... Still getting in my way."
Guillermo Marukitasu gnashed his teeth in fury.
"Is that wooden doll leading them?"
<Yes, Lord Marukitasu. Elena is at the front, personally destroying our combat golems.>
"Guh... Detestable wretches. What about the Magi Emulators?"
<They are ineffective.>
"I see. They didn't work on Deus Ex Machina's golems either. I knew they would be countered eventually, but I didn't expect it to happen quite so soon."
Marukitasu was disappointed, but he accepted it as the inevitable cycle of technological advancement. He didn't dwell on it.
"What is truly a waste is the magi-device for the Ether Stampede."
That was the device he had received from the mysterious existence. He had gambled everything on it just moments ago, only for it to be neutralized.
"A hemisphere... no, a bell-shaped barrier? To think they would seal it by joining two together."
His assistant automata had correctly deduced the method. However, since the Castor and Pollux had been shrouded in Invisible barriers, the enemy remained unaware that two spaceships, each a hundred meters in diameter, were responsible.
"Fine. The annihilation of Taji and Fan villages can be postponed."
He could finish them off whenever he pleased.
"Since they've gone to the trouble of showing themselves, I shall give Nostalgia the reception they deserve. How many combat golems remain?"
<Of our original 409 units, 200 have been silenced. 20 were dispatched to the villages, leaving 189 available.>
"Very well. Leave 20 here for security and send the rest to the front."
<Are you certain, Master?>
"It doesn't matter. I will make this the final battle with Nostalgia. And you—one of you will go as well."
He was addressing the assistant automata. Marukitasu had decided to deploy one of these precious units. In terms of raw power, a single assistant automata was more formidable than ten combat golems.
"When Elena appears, have our unit deal with her."
<Understood.>
Guillermo Marukitasu issued the command. His physical body remained motionless upon the bed.