It was the year 3466 of the Continental Calendar, the year Jin turned thirty.
On Hourai Island, Elsa, Hanna, and Saki were racking their brains.
They were working together toward a common goal: the development of "Magi Bio-material."
Their ultimate aim was to determine whether artificial organs could be created using homunculus materials. As a preliminary step, they were currently attempting to develop a bio-material that would not trigger an immune rejection.
If they succeeded, holes in organs like the stomach, intestines, or heart—as well as major blood vessels—could be sealed without needing to harvest tissue from elsewhere in the patient's body.
"Once the area is sealed, I want the material to gradually assimilate into the person's original cells," Elsa said.
"Right, that would be the ideal," Hanna agreed.
"Kufu... but the question is how to make that happen," Saki added.
Elsa, Hanna, and Saki were exchanging opinions, each drawing from their respective areas of expertise.
"Upon transplantation, it should just need to incorporate DNA information from the cells it's in contact with," Elsa proposed as a theory.
"Yeah, that way it can be replaced bit by bit," Hanna said, nodding.
"If that's the case, the problem is whether cells meant for a homunculus even possess such a function," Saki noted, her tone remaining cautious.
"True. On that point, I think any further discussion is a redundancy no matter how much we talk if we’ve never used them. I’d like to ask No. 700672," Hanna pointed out.
"Nn, I understand. I'll try to contact him."
Elsa nodded and first reached out to Marikka of the Nord Federation via manacam. Since Marikka of the All-Creation was recognized as a master by No. 700672, they believed that they would surely secure his cooperation through her mediation.
The following day, Elsa, Hanna, and Saki were consulting with No. 700672 in the White Room.
"Hmm, I see."
"What do you think? Could you please cooperate with them?"
Marikka was also in attendance, adding her support to the request.
"Since it is Marikka-sama's command, I naturally have no objection."
Because of her involvement, No. 700672 was very well-disposed toward the project.
"If the materials for homunculus use are adjusted, it may indeed be possible to apply them to such organs."
This was welcome news.
"...However, that is a technology that even the Masters could not achieve."
"Why is that?" Hanna asked, her face showing her curiosity.
"Indeed... The technology you are attempting to try for now—the use for sealing parts of organs or blood vessels—is no problem. But when it came to the organs themselves, they did not fit well."
"What do you mean by that?" Elsa asked.
"Well, Elsa-dono, you are a healer, are you not? Then you should be able to understand. Would it make sense if I said the 'replaced organs did not move'?"
"That is..."
Elsa could imagine exactly what he meant.
"For example, if it were a heart, do you mean the transplanted heart would not start beating?"
"Precisely."
The three of them were visibly disappointed. The technology they were aiming for had already been researched by the Progenitors (Origin), and they had reached the penultimate step. Furthermore, they now knew that the path ahead was a dead end.
"That’s too bad..." Hanna murmured, looking dejected. It was only natural; half of their efforts so far felt like a redundancy.
"Well, things like this happen," Saki said, her voice heavy with letdown.
"But..." Elsa spoke up, her perspective differing from the others. "Even if it's a dead end, I think that path still has meaning."
"Big Sister Elsa?"
"Hanna-chan, Saki-nee... it’s true that we might not be able to create full organs. But I think this will still be effective for heart disease, stomach boring, and things like that."
Speaking from her position as a healer, Elsa re-evaluated the significance of their research.
"Hmm, I see!" Hanna immediately understood Elsa's point.
"You're right. It's not like everything we've researched up to this point has become a redundancy." Saki regained her spirits as well.
"Hoho... you are quite positive, aren't you?" No. 700672 seemed impressed as he listened. "But surgery will be difficult, you know?"
"Ah, that'll be fine," Hanna replied.
"What?"
"If it's a surgery to seal a small hole, I think we can manage with a Peeper, a Force Rod, and a transporter."
"Come again?"
"What Hanna-chan is saying is that we can transport the necessary Magi Bio-material directly to the affected area and then use a Force Rod to seal the hole," Elsa explained. "With a Peeper for vision, the surgery can be performed almost painlessly."
"Hmm... I see." No. 700672 seemed moved. "Splendid! Even the Masters did not think of that procedure. It seems your efforts were indeed not a redundancy."
He praised them, but then added, "However, regarding that transporter... was it not the case that matter cannot be sent to a location where solids or liquids already exist?"
No. 700672 pointed out the potential flaw in the method.
"Ah, that'll be fine too," Hanna answered. "First, we use the Force Rod at the affected area to form a tiny sphere of vacuum. Then we send the Magi Bio-material into it and slowly let the vacuum dissipate."
Since it was intended for homunculi, the Magi Bio-material was strong enough to withstand a vacuum for a short period of time.
"I see. Hanna-dono, that sounds as if it would work well."
"Right?"
The only drawback to this method was that Laojun was the only one capable of handling a Peeper, a Force Rod, and a transporter simultaneously.
"For the time being, we have no choice but to leave it to Laojun and Lise," Elsa said, sounding a bit disappointed. However, given that ultra-precise operation was required, it was simply unavoidable.
"So, please give us the information regarding Magi Bio-material," Saki concluded.
No. 700672 nodded. "Understood. If that is the case, I shall impart what I know."
Thus began the research by this unusual combination of Elsa, Hanna, Saki, and No. 700672.
Their hard work bore fruit half a month later. They succeeded in adjusting the homunculus material for human use.
"Now we just need a track record."
"True."
"That's right."
However, they could not simply perform human experimentation at random. A little more time was needed before this technique was truly complete.
Eris's heart condition would eventually be cured by this very technology once it was perfected, though it was only natural that Elsa and the others never learned of it.