Chapter 257 - Chapter 228: Let's Head Home
Well, it said inspection would be complete in about 15 minutes, so I guess I'll wait until then…
"Shou-kun. Could you ask about these Ancient Ruins?"
"Hmm? What do you mean?"
"Ah, well. The way it responds reminds me of the video editing software I use."
Mion's video editing software is apparently a high-end model with the latest AI, and this AI seems very similar.
Since that software also apparently uses AI developed by Six Elements Software, the creators of IRO, it suggests this system might be able to respond verbally.
"Um, excuse me for a moment?"
[Yes. How may I help you?]
Whoa, amazing. So this is what it's like. But now's not the time to be impressed.
"Could you tell me about this facility?"
[Yes. This facility is an Autonomous Mana Regeneration Facility, model number MR-217.]
"Autonomous?"
[Yes. In this facility, I, MR-217, perform the primary Mana regeneration work. I will only act according to the administrator's instructions in the event of anomalies or other emergencies.]
I see. So that's why it's autonomous.
Come to think of it, the Record also mentioned that annual inspections were sufficient.
"Is Shou-kun the only administrator right now?"
"Administrator? Just me?"
[Yes. This facility ceased normal operation due to a rapid decrease in atmospheric Mana, and for safety reasons, it was forced to transition into a Preservation State.
Normally, administrator information would also be preserved, but the Mana supply required for that was cut off, resulting in preservation under minimal conditions.]
Huh? The atmospheric Mana should have returned in a few days, so why is the Mana supply still cut off?
"Could it be due to the Collapse Site in that passage?"
"Ah, beyond this point, the passage on that side has collapsed. Is that why the Mana supply is cut off?"
[Yes. During the current inspection, a malfunction has been confirmed. It is possible to address this by utilizing emergency Mana.]
"Huh? You can fix it?"
[Yes. It is estimated that the Mana Transmission Line can be repaired with approximately 500 Mana. Afterward, Mana supplied from the Power Section will be used to remove debris and restore the passage to a traversable state.]
Oh! If this can clear the collapse, I might be able to return to the Mountain Cabin without going all the way back to the port!
"Shou-kun. You need to ask how long it'll take."
"Ah, right. How much time do you think it'll take?"
[Yes. It is estimated that the Mana Transmission Line repair will take approximately 5 minutes. Full restoration of the passage is estimated to require 1 hour.]
Over an hour, huh…
"Mion, what time is it now?"
"It's past 10:30."
Hmm, that'll push us well past 11.
Wait, not full restoration, but just enough for me to pass safely?
"If it's just to make it safe for us to pass through, would it finish faster?"
[Yes. In that case, it is estimated to take approximately 15 minutes.]
"Sorry, Mion. It might go past 11."
"It's fine. I'm okay until 12."
She mentioned the first time Mion came to my stream, and I remembered it was indeed true.
Ever since club activities started, I feel like I've been finishing seriously at 11…
"Um, do you have enough Mana to restore the Mana Transmission Line?"
[No. Approximately 200 additional emergency Mana are required.]
"Okay, I'll add the Mana now, so could you prioritize the minimum restoration needed for us to pass safely?"
[Yes. I will begin restoration with priority. I will notify you if Mana runs short.]
Since it seemed to have started restoration immediately, I headed to the Super-Sized Magic Crystal Stone.
My MP had recovered to about 70% while we were talking, so even if I consumed 200, I should have just under 100 left.
It'll pass 11, but it's less than 10 minutes from there to the Mountain Cabin, so I should be done before 12.
…
…
…
[Mana Transmission Line restoration is complete. Provisional passage repair will now begin.]
"So, I don't need to put in emergency Mana anymore?"
[Yes. Subsequent repairs will utilize Mana supplied from the Power Section.]
The Power Section is where the monitoring room is located below, right? I should go check it out once things settle down.
I took my hands off the Super-Sized Magic Crystal Stone and headed to the passage leading to the Collapse Site.
"Woof."
"~~~♪"
"Yeah, let's watch from here."
I sat down in a spot where I could see from the room, without going all the way into the passage.
The Ancient Ruins' AI (?), casually mentioned 'restoration', but how does it fix something like that?
"Shou-kun, it seems the President and Seth-chan have something to discuss. Should I have them come to the studio?"
"Ah, yeah."
It's about that World Announcement, right?
Well, it's good timing. I'll let them see this restoration in action.
"Excuse us for intruding."
"Brother! It seems you've done something outrageous again!"
"It was circumstantial. Just circumstantial."
I honestly couldn't think of any other words.
It was just because I decided to try equipping the ring there, and then, swept up in the moment, I just put my hand where it told me to.
"So, what's the situation now?"
"It's about how the Ancient Ruins can repair its own Collapse Site, and that's about to start now."
"I don't understand what you mean…"
Of course, I thought, 'you wouldn't,' but Mion stepped in to explain what had happened.
As for me, not wanting to miss this scene, I gazed down the corridor, stroking Lupi in my lap.
"Oh? Whoa, whoa, whoa?"
A faint light, like a Spirit's Blessing, slowly enveloped the collapsed area.
Once the entire area was covered, the debris on the left side began to float up and move to the right, clearing the path.
"Ehh? How is that moving?"
"Seeing it float, isn't it some kind of Gravity Magic, like Bell-dono mentioned?"
"Ah, reducing its weight… But why isn't the debris on top collapsing?"
It would be fine if the top of the collapse was empty, but it's too strange that the massive amount of debris on it isn't falling.
"It's a complete guess, but perhaps it's fixing its current position with Spatial Magic, or supporting it with Barrier Magic, I wonder?"
"I see, I see…"
While we were talking about that, the debris on the right side was removed, and the other side became visible.
In terms of distance, was it about 10m that was buried? From what I saw on the map, it was about 30m from the current room to the Transfer Elevator, so about a third should be right.
"Can we go now?"
[No. Final safety assurance work is currently in progress. I will notify you as soon as passage is possible.]
"Roger."
"Huh? Who was that just now?"
"That's the Ancient Ruins' control AI, President."
"Hoo-hoo! So it's the machine theory, not the dungeon creature theory!"
The studio seemed to be getting hyped up, but I was grateful that Mion was explaining everything.
It's a bit embarrassing when bits about how amazing I am get thrown in, but…
[Passage is now possible.]
"Thank you. We're going to pass through and head back to the Mountain Cabin, so it would be helpful if you could restore it to its original state afterward."
[Yes. Understood. After you pass through the transfer device, I will proceed with normal restoration work.]
I'd love to keep watching the normal restoration work, but it must be past 11 now.
Let's hurry through and go home to the Mountain Cabin.
"Alright, everyone, let's head home!"
"Woof!"
"~~~♪"
"~~~♪"