Chapter 260 - Chapter 230: Connecting Things, Connected Places
Apparently satisfied, President Bell contacted the Silver Manor members, then logged into IRO.
We were heading to confirm if the collapsed area had been properly repaired, but while descending the stairs from the Mountain Cabin's basin,
[May I have a moment?]
"Whoa!"
I almost missed a step in surprise…
That voice must be the Ancient Ruins' AI, but it came from the ring, right?
"From the ring?"
"Probably? I'll go down first."
"Yes."
I jogged down the stairs, and then, facing the ring again,
"Um, what is it?"
[Yes. All repairs to the problematic areas have been completed. The facility is currently operating normally.]
"Okay. I'm going to check now."
[Yes. Understood.]
I don't know the logic behind it, but it seems I can communicate. No, it must be magic.
If it's about transmitting sound,
"I guess it's some kind of wind-element magic?"
"That's right. Perhaps it's transferring sound?"
"I see…"
So, maybe I can only communicate within the Ancient Ruins?
It feels pretty convenient, but here, there's not much to do besides talking to the Ancient Ruins AI, is there?
To the right at the Crossroads. Beyond where the Transfer Elevator brought us up was already…
"Oh! It's sparkling clean!"
"It's amazing!"
We advanced slowly, carefully observing the left and right walls and the ceiling of the passage.
Come to think of it, the area beyond the Unlock Code door, which used to be dark, was also fixed.
There's a door on the right side, leading to the Observation Deck, I suppose. The open shortcut just before it is also blocked now…
"So, it collapsed centering on this door, huh."
"What was the cause, I wonder?"
"Hmm, probably…"
The people who fled during the calamity, they must have wanted to get outside somehow, right?
Losing mana would feel like losing air, and they might have gambled on the faint hope of getting outside.
"That's scary…"
"If they could've gotten out, maybe things would've been fine after the calamity ended."
Since the Unlock Code door wouldn't open, they probably forced it open, but…
"I think this door was repaired, but it's still the one that requires an Unlock Code, right?"
"It is."
Is it still set to the previous code, that number?
I'll check, just in case.
[Access by a Blessed One confirmed. Please enter the Unlock Code.]
"4725."
[Unlock Code matched. Unlock?]
"Yes."
As expected, or rather, as was natural, it was the same.
Since we're here, I might as well finish visiting the grave first.
We emerged directly into the center of the Observation Deck, and going straight led to Lupi's mother's grave.
Sweee offered flowers for us, and the three of us observed a moment of silence…
"Okay, next up is the Control Room, I guess."
"Woof."
I closed the door firmly and headed to the Control Room.
Across from the entrance, that side table-like object, is that the control panel, I wonder?
Sweee is fluttering above it, looking at it, but she doesn't actually understand what it means, does she?
"Um, I don't know what it was like originally, but the passage was properly fixed, and the door's Unlock Code was also the same as before."
[Yes. Furthermore, this facility has no involvement whatsoever with the various doors.]
"Huh? Is that okay?"
[Yes. To prevent the door states from becoming fixed due to my own functional stoppage or malfunction, management is separated.]
Hmm, is that how it's supposed to be?
I feel like it would be more correct for them to remain open if something happened…
[May I have a moment?]
"Ah, yeah."
In this room, I feel like I can clearly hear it from the control panel.
Come to think of it, how far does the ring's communication reach? Only within the Ancient Ruins? Well, I'll ask later.
[Regarding repairs other than those you confirmed, a portion of the floor in the Large Transfer Room that had collapsed has been repaired.]
The Large Transfer Room is underground, right? Argenta-san was transferred there.
A portion of the floor collapsed…? Ah!
"Was that the part I excavated under SkeGen's feet?!"
"Ah, I forgot to fill it in."
That day, I hurried back right at the last minute, and I haven't been there even once since then.
It didn't feel like there was anything special besides the Transfer Magic Circle, but maybe I should go check again…
[If you prefer the state prior to repair, I can restore it thus?]
"Ah, no. Thank you for fixing it. Is there anything else?"
[Yes. The facility is currently operating normally. Mana Recycle System processing is also available.]
"Ah, that's it. What is Mana Recycle System processing?"
[Mana Recycle System processing refers to the incineration of Mana-containing waste, subsequent charging into Magic Crystal Stones, utilization within this facility, and return to the atmosphere.]
Hoh~, so it was that kind of facility.
Mana-containing waste… does that mean Magic Stones? Magic Tools? Or perhaps Mithril?
"How does it incinerate things?"
"Incineration… is it throwing things into the crater?"
"Ah!"
[Yes. The active volcano on this island releases Mana flowing through the ley lines into the atmosphere. This facility is a regeneration processing facility that utilizes that mechanism.]
I see.
So if you throw in waste, the items are incinerated, and the Mana can be reused.
"Huh? If I don't prepare waste, will Mana run out again and it enter a Preservation State?"
[No. For the basic operation of this facility, collecting only a small portion of the Mana released by volcanic activity is sufficient.]
So, it's not like I specifically have to throw in waste, huh.
On the other hand, if it told me I had to prepare it, I would have been quite troubled.
"Also, what's the range for communication with this ring? There are limits, right?"
[Yes. Communication is only possible within the facility. It cannot be used outdoors.]
Hmm-hmm. Well, as expected.
I guess that's all the questions for now…
"Shou-kun, there's something I'd like you to ask Nina-san."
"Nina-san? Oh, you mean this AI?"
"Ah, yes. Sorry…"
"No, no, I think it's great."
Ah, "Ancient Ruins' AI" is hard to call. Mion's clever, as expected.
…I wonder if I can set a name?
"MR-217 is hard to say, so is 'Nina' okay for a name?"
[Yes. The designation has been changed to 'Nina'.]
"Oh! And what was it again?"
"Ah, yes. It's about where the Transfer Magic Circle leads."
Ah, right.
If that's also one of the facilities, it should know, right?
"Um, I'd like to know the destination of the Transfer Magic Circle. Can you tell me about the one that was in this room and is now in the Mountain Cabin?"
[No. However, information about Transfer Magic Circles can be inquired about using their Individual ID Number.]
That ridiculously long Individual ID Number, huh?
Yeah, naturally, I don't remember it…
"Shou-kun. I'll tell you the number."
"Thank you! Um, the Individual ID Number is…"
I conveyed the number Mion told me, word for word.
[Yes. Querying positioning information… Query complete. The transfer destination is Central Advanced Magic Research Institute, Transfer Tower No. 11-3. Coordinate information is…]
Uh, um…
"It's okay. I've taken notes."
"Thanks. You saved me."
I should start carrying writing implements myself, too…