Having infiltrated the mysterious facility deep underground, Command 1 and Command 2 followed Jin's orders and began analyzing the materials of the enigmatic Magi Machines.
"The outer casing is mostly chrome steel," reported the units. "However, the chromium content is only one percent, so it isn't stainless steel. That said, we detected traces of magic equivalent to Stabilize."
Stabilize was an engineering magi-craft spell originally developed by Stearena Gamma. It was designed to lock a substance's molecular structure; when applied to metals, it prevented oxidation and corrosion.
"But it seems even that couldn't withstand twenty thousand years," the report continued.
That explained why the outer casing had begun to decay.
"Hmm. I wonder if there were any maintenance golems or automata here?" Jin mused.
"Jin-dono, as I mentioned before, this place was likely 'abandoned.' They wouldn't have left such things behind," the Elder, No. 700672, answered.
"Ah, I see. That makes sense."
"Furthermore, if it's an abandoned facility, the magi-reactors would almost certainly have been removed," the Elder added, offering his speculation. "Though the Masters at the height of their era might have had a different philosophy."
"Even so, your insight is helpful."
Jin instructed Command 1 and 2 to prioritize checking whether the magi-reactors still remained inside the Magi Machines.
"Understood."
The two units prioritized that task, analyzing the massive machines. Fifteen minutes later, they reported back.
"Master, the probability that the magi-reactors have been removed is over ninety percent."
"I see. Got it."
Jin realized that the Elder's intuition had been spot on. If the reactors were gone, there was no chance of these Magi Machines waking up.
"All right. You have permission to use magic more extensively for the investigation."
"Understood."
The investigation by Command 1 and 2 accelerated significantly.
"None of the internal materials appear to be of biological origin."
"The wiring, which we suspect was once mithril silver, appears to have been salvaged."
Jin figured that as resources grew scarce, the essential mithril had been recovered.
"…Alright, I'm going in," Jin decided.
He intended to use his Body Double, of course.
"Jin-dono, would it be acceptable for me to remain here?" the Elder asked.
"Ah, yes. In fact, please do. I'd prefer it if you stayed."
Jin felt much more secure having the Elder supervise from the ship.
＊ ＊ ＊
After returning to Hourai Island for a moment, Jin headed straight to the command room to prepare the Body Double.
"My Lord, have a safe journey."
In this instance, "going" meant the consciousness of Jin and the physical presence of the Body Double.
"Yeah, I'm off," Jin replied, focusing his consciousness on operating the doll.
＊ ＊ ＊
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Jin D, the Body Double, returned to the Adriana. Since the Elder, No. 700672, had seen this process several times, he didn't show any particular surprise.
"Oh, Jin-dono. You're heading down now?"
"Yes, I'm on my way."
After confirming with the Elder, Jin turned to his companion.
"Reiko, let's go."
"Yes, Father," Reiko replied briefly, following the Body Double.
While Jin had been preparing his terminal, Command 1 and 2 had set up a simple Warp Gate. It was a nearly disposable gate installed on a Mini-Mole, limited to at most two round trips. Any more than that, and the magi-circuits would burn out.
However, Jin—and by extension, Jin D—was different. He could simply repair and maintain it as he used it.
"Hardening… there, that should do it."
After ensuring his return route was secure, Jin D turned toward the Magi Machine towering before him.
"…This is it, then. Let's start with the exterior."
Jin began removing the outer panels.
"Hup!"
With the Body Double's strength and Reiko's assistance, the exterior casing was stripped away in just thirty seconds.
"Ooh…"
The internal components were of a design Jin had never seen. However, it was still a product of magi-craft.
"…If I know what to look for, I can get a general idea of how it works."
Even if the appearance changed, the core theories remained the same. Every result had a cause, and every output required an input.
"I feel like I can understand the gist of it if I just follow the flow of magi."
Jin D began a meticulous examination of the massive Magi Machine.
＊ ＊ ＊
"Hmph. Jin-dono is quite capable, as expected."
Aboard the Adriana, the Elder, No. 700672, watched Jin's efficient work through a magi-screen.
"Oho, that is surely…"
Something on the screen seemed familiar to the Elder.
"Was it Taisei? Can you contact Jin-dono?"
"Yes, that is possible. Did you find something?"
"Indeed. It's something I should tell him immediately."
＊ ＊ ＊
"My Lord, the Elder says he has something urgent to communicate."
The message reached the real Jin on Hourai Island, rather than Jin D.
"Hmm? I wonder what it is."
Jin brought his consciousness back to reality while Laojun took over control of the Body Double.
"Jin-dono, it is I."
"Yes, I hear you. Is something wrong?"
"Indeed. Regarding that Magi Machine you're investigating—I believe its recording devices might still be intact."
The Elder urged him to be careful not to damage that specific section.
"Recording devices?"
"Yes. They likely removed the magi-crystals used for recording to reuse them elsewhere, but I suspect there are emergency backups engraved on stone slabs."
"Stone slabs…?"
"They aren't ordinary stones. The surfaces are crystallized, and the minimum necessary information should be recorded upon them."
"I see. If such a thing exists…"
Jin D immediately began searching. Reiko did the same. Reiko used her force generator to scan from the top of the massive Magi Machine.
"Is it this?"
Jin D discovered a stone disc about thirty centimeters in diameter, its surface coated in transparent crystal. It was about five millimeters thick, resembling an LP record—or perhaps a laserdisc.
"Oh, that's it! I know how to decompile those. They're extremely valuable, so please recover as many as you can!"
The Elder sounded uncharacteristically excited. Following his lead, Jin D began searching for more of the discs.