"As expected of the Progenitors... This craftsmanship is incredible..."
On Hourai Island, Laojun was busy analyzing the duplicated "Master."
"...It really is amazing, the technique needed to condense everything into this size."
Hanna was helping as well.
"I wonder if they had golems like the Mini-Smiths?"
"No. Given the nature of the Progenitors, they most likely used specialized processing machinery rather than golems."
"Ah, that makes sense."
Laojun and Hanna deduced that the Progenitors had probably utilized dedicated machines to mass-produce countless "Masters" and bury them in the soil.
"Then the ones who did the actual work must have been golems, or... servants like the Elder, right?"
"Most likely, yes."
Judging by the sheer thoroughness of the work, the two ultimately agreed that it was probably carried out by golems.
"And then there's the sheer number."
"Indeed. Assuming one unit per one hundred square meters, the total area of arable soil in the Four Principalities—including undeveloped areas—comes to roughly eighty thousand square kilometers."
"Doing the math on that... Eight hundred million units?! How did they ever manage to make that many?"
Then there was the format of the inscribed magi-sequences.
"It shares a great deal with three-dimensional magic circles."
"It feels like they crammed as many magi-sequences into that limited space as physically possible..."
Laojun and Hanna marveled at the technological prowess of the Progenitors.
"This methodology is certainly worth reporting to My Lord."
"Yeah! If it's Onii-chan, I'm sure he can refine it and finish it into an even more advanced format!"
"Indeed. Let us compile a report. Hanna-san, would you mind helping me?"
"Yeah, of course!"
Around the time that exchange was taking place on Hourai Island, Jin was delivering his report in Norha Principality.
"...And so, that is how it works."
"I see! As expected of Jin-dono!"
First Ministry of Internal Affairs Daha Shomur voiced his admiration.
"This puts my mind at ease. So long as we do not remove those buried 'Masters,' a bountiful harvest is guaranteed, correct?"
Minister of General Affairs Kaimu Law Hasta asked, seeking firm confirmation.
"I believe you could say that."
Though that comes with the caveat that nothing unnecessary is done to the soil itself, Jin added.
In situations like this, it was entirely possible that someone might get greedy trying to boost crop yields even further, tamper with the soil, and end up ruining everything.
When he explained that,
"I see, I see. Indeed, human nature often tempts one toward such folly. We shall manage the land strictly to ensure no unnecessary meddling occurs."
Chancellor Premus Hai Yasuna gave a firm nod and gave his word.
Soon, dinnertime arrived.
"I wonder if this will suit your palate, Jin-dono,"
said Sarai Sayada de Norha, the Queen Consort of Norha Principality, who was seated at the table.
"No, I am enjoying it very much."
While Jin certainly appreciated fine food, he was fundamentally not a picky eater.
The menu that evening consisted of salt-grilled and meunière hotrout—a type of trout native to warmer regions—caught in the local lake.
Alongside the fish were barley porridge, korot soup, and a fresh vegetable salad.
Looking over the spread, Jin voiced a thought that had crossed his mind.
"...Meat is quite scarce here, isn't it?"
"You noticed? As you say, there are very few wild animals in this country, and pastureland is limited, so livestock itself is scarce."
First Ministry of Internal Affairs Daha Shomur answered.
"Creating farmland takes priority over building ranches."
"I suppose that makes sense..."
Jin imagined that meat was likely a luxury good throughout all the Four Principalities, not just in Norha Principality.
(Hmm...)
He could understand the logic that arable land should be used for crops rather than grazing if grass could grow, so there was nothing that could be done about it for the moment. Jin decided to shelve the issue for now.
That night, he was scheduled to stay at the Guest House... however.
Saying he had something he needed to fetch, Jin headed to Hurricane and used its onboard Warp Gate to return to Hourai Island.
There, he swapped places with his Doppel, Jin D.
There was something he wanted to look into regarding the pastureland issue from earlier.
"This version of me shall accompany you."
Since the original Reiko had to stay by Jin D's side, it was Mini Reiko's turn to step in.
Mini Reiko was a miniature Doppel Jin had crafted 400 years ago, standing 30 centimeters tall.
Because the main Reiko remotely piloted her, operating the mini unit slightly reduced the main body's processing capacity, but under normal circumstances, it was not an issue in the slightest.
"Alright. Shall we go, then?"
"Yes, Father."
Incidentally, Mini Reiko's vocal mechanism was not a vibration type, but a playback type that combined recorded vocal components to speak. Thus, despite her diminutive size, her voice was not high-pitched; she spoke in Reiko's exact tone.
Jin's destination was Planet Hehl—specifically, the Elder's home.
Bringing a gift of Persica juice with him, he stepped through the large-class Warp Gate and took his dedicated craft, Sparrow, to the Elder's residence.
By the way, to allow even Mini Reiko to pilot it, the craft featured a "control core direct connection mode." Mini Reiko could enter a transparent capsule and control the Sparrow with her thoughts as effortlessly as her own limbs.
It happened to be daytime on the planet. The Elder, No. 700672, was leisurely sunbathing outside and greeted Jin and his companion in high spirits.
"Jin-dono, what brings you here today?"
"Well, there was something I wanted to consult you about."
Handing the gift of Persica juice to Neige, Jin began his explanation.
"...And that is the situation."
"I see. A region worked on by the Masters was left half-finished, and you wish to complete it—is that it?"
"Yes."
From Jin's perspective, he thought it would be wonderful if he could bring the lands of the Four Principalities to the final state originally intended by the Progenitors.
"Tell me a bit more about that region."
"Understood."
Jin went on to explain how artificial soil had been layered atop the original terrain, described the dedicated "Master" control cores managing the ground, and noted the sparse rainfall, among other details.
"I see. It was likely the work of the pioneer faction or the invasion faction among the Masters... In any case, the radical faction."
The Elder offered his assessment.
"Given those circumstances, they certainly must have intended to implement weather control."
"So you think so as well?"
"You had a faint inkling yourself, did you not, Jin-dono? And you came here hoping to learn how to manage the weather, did you not?"
"Precisely as you say."
Hearing that, the Elder nodded.
"However... unfortunately, I possess almost no knowledge regarding that field."
"...I see."
Even the Elder was not omniscient. Jin had known that going in, but he still could not help feeling a twinge of disappointment.
However, the Elder continued.
"...Though, Jin-dono, are you not forgetting one important thing?"
"An important thing?"
Jin tilted his head, wondering what he could possibly mean.