"An 'ether converter'? Yes, I can make one, but is there an issue with that?"
To Marukonen, who had answered so casually, Elena replied:
"There is absolutely nothing wrong with being able to make one. However, in today's world, the number of people capable of doing so can be counted on one hand. I was simply wondering if you were aware of that."
"Oh, is that so?"
Even upon hearing this, Marukonen did not seem particularly surprised.
(As expected, this reaction... He truly is completely out of touch with the world...)
"Indeed it is."
While maintaining a friendly demeanor on the surface, Elena was inwardly struggling to gauge Marukonen's true identity and motives.
"Because the Magic Federation suppressed technology, the lineage of such advanced techniques was severed."
"..."
Elena pressed further.
"Marukonen-dono, just how did you manage to escape the Magic Federation's reach?"
"......"
"Please, tell me. I have no intention of blaming you for anything."
"............"
"Marukonen-dono."
"...Very well. I will tell you."
After a long silence, Marukonen finally spoke.
"I... we belong to a clan living in the far north of the continent... yes, far north of the Kingdom of Franz."
"In such a remote place?"
"Yes. Though I call it a clan, it is quite small—fewer than ten people."
I see, thought Elena. If the group was that tiny, it made sense that even Laojun on Hourai Island had been unable to detect them.
It would be one thing if they had known a target was there to observe, but since it was presumed to be an uninhabited region, they likely relied only on image analysis from Watcher without maintaining constant surveillance via a Peeper.
"The head of our clan is named Marcosius....Does anyone here recognize that name?"
Elena naturally reacted to this.
"Marcosius...! Do you mean Marcosius-dono of the 'Frenzy'?"
"Ah, that is correct. However, Master said he had abandoned that clan, so now he is simply Marcosius."
"So he really was connected to Marcosius after all."
On Hourai Island, Laojun and Jin were watching Elena's meeting through a Peeper.
"A disciple... huh. So that guy took on apprentices of his own."
"Yes, My Lord. It is said he was once hailed as the greatest genius since the inception of the Frenzy Clan."
"He certainly knew how to build golems, that's for sure."
Jin recalled that during the 'Failure' incident, Marcosius had constructed four-meter-class giant golems known as 'Belgris.'
"The matchup was just terrible for them back then, but their movements were quite impressive."
While they stood no chance against an adamantite gargoyle, he remembered that prior to that, they had completely overpowered ordinary gargoyles.
"If I recall correctly, he was deeply frustrated that his golems were defeated by Reiko-san and declared that he would avenge his loss one day."
"I see. That ambition might be what this is all about."
Although his grudge and hatred had faded thanks to the aid provided to the demon race—the Northern People—his pride as a craftsman remained wounded. It was highly likely he had left the Nord Federation to hone his craft while wandering.
Even Jin could understand that sentiment.
"I wonder if Marcosius is still burning to settle the score."
"We would have to ask the man himself to be certain."
"True enough."
"We lived north of the great mountain range known as the Sahara. Even the Magic Federation never extended its reach that far."
Marukonen spoke matter-of-factly.
"We resided in an underground cavern, which was modified in various ways to make living there comfortable."
He gradually grew more talkative.
"You say 'we,' but are you all siblings? Or fellow disciples?" Elena interjected.
"None of us whom I refer to as 'we' share any blood relation. We are all orphans whom our master and adoptive father, Marcosius-sama, took in during his travels."
"Is that so... I apologize for prying. Please, continue."
Apologizing for overstepping into personal matters, Elena urged him on.
"Even if you ask me to go on, there is not much else to tell....We knew the Magic Federation was running rampant, so we made sure not to get involved. Now that those concerns seem to have passed, we have scattered across the land like this."
"I understand....Lastly, what is your ultimate objective?"
Elena asked directly. This was the most crucial question.
"Our objective? First, since we went through the effort of learning these skills, we wanted to share them with the world. Second, Master ordered us disciples to go out and see the world for ourselves. And..."
"And?"
"Well, the last reason is a private matter."
Marukonen trailed off evasively.
"A private matter... Could it perhaps be a search for someone, or a quest to find an object?"
At Elena's words, Marukonen gave a slight, reflexive twitch.
"Just as I suspected....Forgive me for testing you. However, we at Nostalgia possess an extensive information network. We might be able to assist you, you know."
"..."
Hearing Elena's offer, Marukonen sank into thought, clearly wrestling with whether to reveal their final objective.
After about five minutes of silence, just as Elena was about to tell him not to push himself if it was difficult to discuss...
"...A black-haired automata."
Marukonen muttered under his breath.
"Pardon?"
"To meet the black-haired automata once more... That is Master's wish."
When it came to a black-haired automata, only one crossed Elena's mind.
"Could it be... Reiko-san?"
The moment she murmured the name—
"That's her! That was the name!!"
Marukonen latched onto it with fierce intensity.
"Do you know her?"
"Yes."
"...Could you... please tell me... her whereabouts, her master, or how we might meet her?"
"If you tell me what he intends to do once they meet, I will gladly consider it."
The conversation had strayed far from its original purpose, but no one pointed that out.
Then—
"...Is it not enough that Master simply wishes to see her?"
"No. If possible, please tell me the reason."
"...Very well. Master's... lifelong ambition is to create an automata that surpasses the one named 'Reiko.'"
"..."
Marukonen quickly continued.
"It is by no means for the sake of destroying each other or anything violent like that. Please believe me."
Seeing Elena's brow furrow slightly, Marukonen added in a fluster:
"He simply wants to see the ultimate culmination of the path he has walked. That is all."
From his earnest tone, it was evident he genuinely cared for his master, Marcosius.
After weighing the matter, Elena decided to disclose information piece by piece.
"Are you aware that Reiko-san is the servant of the Magi Craft Meister?"
"Yes, I have heard."
"Then, what do you know of the current generation's Magi Craft Meister?"
"Not much at all."
"...I see."
She realized that since he had only recently ventured out into the wider world, he had not yet gathered sufficient information.
"Reiko-san is by the side of the current... the Third Generation Magi Craft Meister."