"To put it simply, it’s a ‘shouted command’."
After considering how best to explain the phenomenon, Jin settled on that analogy.
"A shouted command? You mean they’re being forced to obey against their will?"
"Yes, exactly."
As expected, Lordtoss was quick to catch on.
"...I see. In other words, rather than a specific mana wave, they’re using a broad frequency band to force their instructions through?"
Reglei, the Magic Technology Minister, also seemed to grasp Jin's intent.
"That’s it. They’re essentially forcing the waveform through with brute strength."
It was a primitive approach. However, unlike the Master-Slave Rewrite Magic that relied on Elradrite or Mityanite for its effects, Jin was impressed that this had been achieved using standard magi-devices.
"The activation window is likely between several and ten-odd seconds. During that time, they seem to employ a method that continuously sweeps the frequency from low to high."
Jin concluded his explanation by noting that if the sweep hit the correct frequency during that window, the command would be accepted.
"Jin-sama, can they really be made to obey with something so simple?" Shu asked. "I didn't think commands to golems could be issued so easily by someone without authorization."
"I-I agree," Rubina added. "Jin-sama, how is that possible?"
Jin was pleased that Shu and Rubina had spotted the flaw in the logic.
"Good catch. My explanation so far was just an outline. What you two are wondering about is the very key to this entire method."
"Jin-dono, what is it? Please, tell us," Reglei urged, leaning forward in interest.
"Of course. First, a quick review. Master-Slave Rewrite Magic is a Write In performed with an extraordinary amount of mana. Because of that, it requires amplification via Elradrite—or rather, Mityanite. We’re clear on that, right?"
"Yes."
"On the other hand, a Magi Emulator mimics the caster's mana waveform to command the unit. It doesn't require mana amplification, but you must precisely identify the target's mana wave."
"That is correct," Lordtoss and Reglei said, nodding.
"Now, this might seem like a bit of a tangent..."
As he spoke, Jin glanced at Rubina and Shu. He was deliberately giving a somewhat roundabout explanation so the two of them could follow along. They were listening with rapt attention.
"Why is it that golems and automata recognize their creator as the Arch Master? That’s where the answer lies."
"Eh?"
"Any magi-engineer should know this: a standard control system has no built-in function to specifically filter for a creator's mana waveform."
"Ah!"
"T-That’s true!"
Rubina, Shu, Lordtoss, and Reglei all cried out in realization simultaneously.
"In other words, the creator is recognized by something else—something special."
"S-So that’s the key!?" Shu asked urgently.
"Hmm... I wonder what it is?" Rubina mused, her face clouded with thought.
"Could it be... resonance?" Lordtoss asked in a small, uncertain voice.
"Yes, Lordtoss. That’s the answer."
"It really is resonance!"
Resonance is a phenomenon where the vibrational energy of one object is transferred to another. In electrical engineering, it is often referred to as resonance or oscillation. A well-known experiment involves two tuning forks with the same natural frequency; when one is struck, the other begins to vibrate as well.
The same principle applies to mana waves. A mana waveform that has undergone a Write In is the one with the highest affinity for that specific unit. Consequently, the creator unconditionally becomes the Arch Master.
"So, how do you trigger resonance in mana waves? Primarily, it’s a matter of frequency."
Jin kept the thought to himself that the way mana waveforms were involved made it slightly more complex than simple acoustic or electrical resonance.
"Even if it’s not a perfect resonance, you can still use it to disrupt them."
Jin asserted that this was the root cause of the current chaos. By forcing a momentary misidentification of the Arch Master, a false command could be slipped in. Unlike humans, golems can process and accept a command in a fraction of a second, making this reckless brute-force method viable.
"Shouted commands and resonance..." Lordtoss murmured, sinking into thought as if a piece of the puzzle had clicked into place.
"So, they used resonance to intercept the units with a false command, then?"
Jin nodded. "That’s the conclusion I’ve reached."
Jin explained that by injecting a 'shouted' command during that brief window of resonance, the culprit intended to throw the golems into a state of confusion.
"I doubt they expected the confusion to be quite this effective," Jin added. "I suspect a command like ‘Aim for the goal’ was overwritten with ‘The goal is the town of Bulurek’."
"That means if the creator or the owner gives a command, they should stop, right?"
"They should."
This was excellent news. Until now, they had avoided letting owners near the rampaging golems to minimize risk, but it seemed those fears might have been unnecessary.
"Nonetheless, it's not a hundred percent certain, so it would be wise to start with just a few units."
"In that case, I shall go first," Reglei declared, taking Jin's advice to heart. He intended to stop Bib #1 himself.
"Very well. I shall have my Urgan serve as your guard," Lordtoss offered.
"Lordtoss, thank you. Your Majesty, I shall be off."
"U-Umu. Be careful."
With Urgan as his escort, Magic Technology Minister Reglei mounted one of the few horses available and galloped toward the rampaging golems.
As the Minister rode away, Ernst II, the Emperor of the Shouro Empire, turned to face Jin.
"Jin Nidou, was it? You possess technology and knowledge that surpasses even our own Magic Technology Minister... Tell me, just who are you?"
The moment had finally arrived. Jin had been halfway bracing himself for this. He had discussed a vague plan with Laojun, but they hadn't reached a firm conclusion.
However, someone else spoke first.
"Allow me to explain. This gentleman is the Third Generation Magi Craft Meister, Jin Nidou-sama."
Reiko stepped forward and made the declaration firmly.
"My name is Reiko. Long ago, I was granted the title of Honorary Squire in your great Empire."
This was the contingency Laojun had proposed. Since the current Jin was a duplicate, he could be considered the Third Generation in that sense. Furthermore, they would explain that he used the name ‘Jin Nidou’ specifically because he was the Magi Craft Meister.
"Oho! I knew you were no ordinary man, but to think you are the Third Generation Magi Craft Meister. And you are that Lady Reiko? No, no, the honor is entirely mine."
Only those in the Nord Federation knew what the Second Generation Magi Craft Meister had looked like in his youth. By claiming Jin was a descendant, the physical resemblance became a point of persuasion rather than suspicion.
The only potential complication was...
"Big Sister, Father, it has been a long time."
It was a golem like Lotte—one who had known the original Jin but was unaware of the current circumstances.
"Lotte, you look well," Reiko replied.
"Yes, Big Sister. My current master treats me with great care."
Yet, Lotte’s presence served as the perfect proof that Reiko was indeed the legendary Lady Reiko.
"If Lotte recognizes you, there can be no doubt. You are that Lady Reiko, and the one whom Lady Reiko serves is unquestionably the Magi Craft Meister."
Ernest XVII of the Kingdom of Egerea had approached them at some point and nodded in agreement.
"One of the requirements for the title of Magi Craft Meister is a matching magic pattern," Reiko explained. "Therefore, this gentleman and the one who created Lotte possess the same magic pattern."
Both Emperor Ernst II and Prince Ernest XVII seemed satisfied by this logic.
"For that reason, I also address him as ‘Father’ out of respect," Reiko added.
With Reiko’s declaration, the fact that Lotte also called Jin "Father" was accepted as a natural mark of his lineage and title.
And so, this became the first step toward Jin’s presence being formally recognized by the world.