Laojun, tasked with the mission of sending Jin four hundred years into the past in the approaching future, was doing everything in its power to prepare.
...Even with my current capabilities, it is not enough.
Though Laojun had been modified by Jin numerous times, with its performance improving with each iteration, it felt that its abilities were still insufficient for the monumental task of transcending time.
Fortunately, the "original" Jin had removed its limiters during his final years, enabling the possibility of self-modification. This had also been a measure taken by the "original" Jin to facilitate the search for his Successor while simultaneously planning for the events four hundred years in the future.
Laojun judged that while its memory capacity was more than adequate thanks to repeated improvements, its information processing capability was at its breaking point.
Is further improvement of my capabilities impossible?
Laojun intended to bet everything on this functional enhancement, even if it meant temporarily halting its other tasks.
Clock-up and parallel processing. Is there no other method...?
On a granular level, Laojun had already implemented OS improvements and processing optimizations, but the gains from these were limited to a few percentage points.
I must increase it by at least double...
Regarding what would be called the clock frequency in a computer, it had already been raised near its physical limit. That limit was dictated by the purity and attributes of the magi-crystals being used. The highest quality crystals available had been used for Laojun's brain.
Let me change my perspective. If I cannot increase the frequency of the ether waves, can I not increase their propagation speed?
The speed of free ether waves, much like electricity, changes depending on the medium. However, with practical materials, that change is only a few percent.
What about materials that are not practical?
Laojun thought of "Hyper" materials. "Hyper" materials generally referred to substances that had undergone molecular compression.
If the density increases, the speed of the free ether waves will...
Saki had previously conducted extremely precise experiments, finding that free ether waves possessed properties similar to longitudinal waves. The speed of a longitudinal wave decreases as the density of the medium increases, but it increases as the modulus of elasticity of the medium decreases—in other words, as the material becomes more rigid.
This is it!
Laojun's reasoning was as follows:
A "Hyper" magi-crystal with double the density would possess double the information density. Consequently, a magi-brain of the same configuration could be constructed at half the original size. Furthermore, because it was compressed, the modulus of elasticity would decrease, thereby increasing the propagation speed. This would offset the velocity decrease caused by the higher density, effectively achieving the same result as boosting the speed of the ether waves themselves.
Laojun proceeded to verify the practical compression ratio for "Hyper" magi-crystals through experimentation. Eventually, it determined that a "Hyper" magi-crystal with approximately eight times the density was the most practical limit. Any compression ratio higher than that would make it difficult to write the magi-formulas into the crystal.
Since the decrease in speed will be halved, the effective clock speed will quadruple.
Of course, this was a theoretical value. When looking at the system comprehensively, including the speed of interactions with the information bank, the improvement was roughly 3.5 times.
Even so, it is sufficient.
Laojun, which already boasted staggering processing power, would now see its performance jump by another 3.5 times. This was a monumental advancement.
One can never have too much performance.
Laojun also knew from Jin's teachings that time flows more slowly the greater the gravity. Therefore, Laojun used its gravitioner to reduce the gravity immediately surrounding itself to nearly zero. It calculated that this would improve efficiency by a fraction of a percent.
By employing various ingenious measures both large and small, Laojun ultimately achieved a total performance increase of five times. With its upgraded mind, it resumed its research into the mechanics required to send Jin four hundred years into the past.
＊ ＊ ＊
Time continued to flow, and the Magic Federation began to rise in power.
"Laojun, I believe it is nearly time for me to enter my slumber."
One day, Reiko made this proposal to Laojun. She had been watching over Jin's descendants until recently, but having decided they no longer required her direct supervision, she had said her goodbyes and returned to Hourai Island. It was a comfort to know that the Golem Maids prepared by Laojun were also attending to them.
Indeed, Reiko-san. As we previously heard from My Lord, it is almost time for you to begin your dormancy in that land.
That land—the westernmost tip of the Lashier Continent. The place Jin had specified. There, she would enter an adamantite capsule and wait for the era when Jin would arrive. In a sense, it was a historical necessity.
"It is likely around here."
Just as Jin had described, she found a landscape that looked like a miniature version of Hourai Island.
"If this is Mount Hourai... then the laboratory should be located here."
Reiko contacted Laojun via her internal manacam. Within twenty seconds, the capsule and two Smith units were warped to her location. Working together, they excavated a deep pit and installed the adamantite capsule. The interior was already filled with ethenol.
"Then, I leave the rest to you."
"Yes, Ojou-sama."
A hole was opened in the adamantite capsule using engineering magic. Reiko slipped inside, and the Smith units immediately sealed the opening behind her.
Wrapped in absolute darkness, Reiko drifted into a light sleep.
(Father, I shall be waiting...)
She dreamed of the day she would meet her beloved Jin once again.
＊ ＊ ＊
The Smith units who had buried Reiko returned to Hourai Island aboard a Pelican aircraft piloted by the Sky units.
Now then, the Magic Federation should be attacking shortly.
Laojun, having nearly completed the preparations to send Jin back four hundred years, shifted into a defensive posture.
"I will not allow lawless wretches to trample Hourai Island—the place Lady Predecessor created and My Lord developed."
Laojun proceeded to implement a vast array of defensive measures. However, it was a step—no, a half-step—too late. A giant golem fell from the sky. It had apparently been suspended by over fifty airships, and they had managed to intrude this far by utilizing a recognition inhibition barrier.
Golbart Markitus... he is not to be underestimated.
The giant golem raised its massive arms, intent on destroying the laboratory.
This is not sophisticated at all....However, as its power is an unknown quantity, I cannot afford any risks.
Laojun did not believe the laboratory Jin had Finished with such devotion would be damaged by a mere blow from a golem, but it chose to be cautious. It covered the laboratory with a solid barrier and deployed a Magic Canceller barrier around the perimeter, while simultaneously neutralizing the free ether in the immediate area.
Deprived of its energy source, the golem came to a Stop.
...I have done everything I can. Now I have only to await the day My Lord arrives.
And so, Laojun reduced its activity level to the absolute minimum.
＊ ＊ ＊
Then came September 13, Continental Calendar 3899.
"Laojun!"
It heard the voice of the Jin it had been waiting for.
Yes, My Lord.
After three hundred and sixty-two years, Laojun was finally reunited with Jin.