**Side: Rika**
Three days after Yamato and his group completed MARS, today, I came to Memoria General Academy with the four developers.
Naturally, the goal is to install MARS.
Although the academy opening is still half a year away, the faculty and Scholar’s Guild will be the ones actually using it. It’s necessary for them to learn how to use it, and hands-on experience is important. So, the sooner, the better for us.
Oh, and I recently found out I’m pregnant. So, I’m resting on a sofa that Mana-sama also uses, and Yamato is carrying me with his Telekinetic Magic.
I was a little surprised to learn I’m four months pregnant.
I had been getting regular check-ups, but it seems there are individual differences. While it can be detected as early as two months, sometimes the healing magic “Examining” doesn’t react until four or five months.
I was like that too, and more importantly, I had no morning sickness, so I never imagined I was pregnant.
However, I will be the awaited heir to the Marquis Amatista family, so not only me but also Mother and Myun were overjoyed.
What’s more, Yamato even spoke with the Order’s Guild and had Dart, the Sub-Order’s Master, and his wife, Riala, dispatched as escorts.
They’re accustomed to guarding duties due to their past as Escort Orders, and I trust them, so I’m grateful.
Mana-sama also has escorts from the Feel branch Order while she’s in Feel, so I do feel it’s a bit overprotective.
“Is a complete fixation acceptable?”
“Yes. This uses materials not just of M-rank, but A-rank as well, so we’d have trouble if it were easily taken. Especially the magic stone in the core is A-C rank.”
The one installing MARS is Trust, the Crafter’s Master of Memoria and a Dwarf.
He’s also a blacksmith and extremely interested in MARS, so when I proposed the idea, he readily agreed and even cleared his schedule himself as the Crafter’s Master.
“A-C rank magic stone… They say it’s processed into a Tenma Stone, and that alone must be a fortune. Things like that sprout legs immediately, so I doubt any idiots would try to steal it.”
“Normally, that would be the case, but we can’t say for sure there isn’t anyone abnormal.”
“That’s true. And once it’s fixed here, the main body will be completely embedded. Even if someone tries to steal it, they’ll be found out immediately, right?”
Trust probably intended to mutter that, but since I’m a High Elf, Mako and the others are Ancient Classes, and Yamato is an Element Human, we all heard him clearly.
Neither Yamato nor I intended to eavesdrop, and he wasn’t saying anything rude, but Trust looked embarrassed when he realized we’d heard him.
Since MARS uses high-rank monster materials, to prevent theft, it’s installed embedded into the facility’s walls.
If it were completely embedded, the magic stone couldn’t be set. So, the control panel including the magic stone receptacle and the monitor displaying the life bar are exposed, but everything else is completely embedded.
Furthermore, the main unit, control panel, and monitor are separated, so even if the control panel is destroyed, the MARS main unit remains unharmed.
Additionally, for security, magic stones with Yamato’s Lynx Mind, a type of Engraving Magic for detection, are embedded behind the control panel and in the main unit. If it’s used in an unexpected way or the wall is broken, it sends an image to the paired magic stone immediately.
It’s a combination of magic and engraving magic, so it’s different from a Communication Tool. The magic stone for receiving is located in the office of Marquis Amatista, so the culprit can be identified immediately.
This is for security and kept highly confidential, so Trust isn’t aware of it.
“Alright, it’s finished! Tensho, Koshaku. Please confirm.”
Trust completed the installation of MARS in about 20 minutes.
I was already informed of MARS’s main unit size and the separation of the control panel, so I had cleared the necessary space beforehand. It was really just placing it, locking it, and sealing the wall.
“Hmm, no problems here.”
“Yes. The seams are invisible, just as expected from an M-rank Crafter.”
“Something like this should be perfectly doable for Tensho and the others too.”
I wonder about that.
A Crafter registered for only about a year and a Crafter’s Master with nearly 20 years of experience are worlds apart, even setting aside magic power. Even if Yamato and his group did it, I doubt it would have turned out this clean.
“Well then, next is the operational test. Dart, please.”
We’ve already run experiments in Alka, but we still need to thoroughly confirm it functions properly here. Especially since the barrier is said to cover the entire Coliseum, there’s no option but to verify it.
“Understood. No, I mean, I understand.”
“It’s fine to act normally, you know.”
This time, both Yamato and I are here as part of an official installation, so Dart, the Sub-Order’s Master, needs to use polite language towards Yamato, who is his superior.
However, Yamato strongly feels he was just recently granted a noble title and considers Dart a friend, so he doesn’t particularly like this formality. Many nobles in Amister, not just me, feel the same way, but it’s better to think of it as necessary for distinguishing between public and private matters.
“Ah, so normally it’s fine, but during official projects, if you don’t properly maintain the hierarchy, it can interfere with the work?”
“That’s right.”
If you don’t clearly distinguish between public and private matters, site workers might not recognize their superiors and act defiantly, or in the worst-case scenario, they might do the exact opposite and cause a collapse.
It’s rare for such things to happen, but that’s precisely why it needs to be handled properly.
“Tensho, preparations are complete.”
“Understood. Flam, the magic stones are as agreed beforehand. Ludia, the barrier will be Pattern 2.”
“Understood.”
“Okay.”
Once Dart’s preparations were complete, Yamato gave instructions to Flam and Ludia.
There are two magic stones to be used this time: one from a Giant Orc, and the other from a Blade Fish.
A Giant Orc is an S-R rank monster. Dart has experience participating in the subjugation of an Orc Emperor and Orc Empress that were born in the Mylight Mountains, so C-rank or even B-rank monsters wouldn’t be a match for them.
I thought an anomaly might be something else, so this time we chose the rare species Giant Orc.
The barrier type is designed not only to not alter the scenery but also has ten patterns prepared, including grasslands, snowfields, and underwater.
Pattern 2, I believe, is grasslands.
“Whoa, illusions of monsters…”
“They’re illusions, so you can’t touch them, nor do they recognize us. However, that wouldn’t be suitable for combat training, so we used a special water soaked with the magic stone used to create MARS’s Tenma Stone for the visors to provide interactivity.”
“Such a method… But wouldn’t that make it impossible to create them in the future?”
I thought the same when I heard it, but Yamato and Flam, the proposer, had already considered that. That magic stone is not incorporated into MARS.
Knowing that visors would be mass-produced in the future, the magic stones can be used repeatedly, and they are properly stored in the Crafting Hall of Alka.
Incidentally, the water used isn’t just plain water; it’s mixed with dissolved Lapis Laz, crushed cherry tree fragments, Gold Dragoon blood, scraps of Royal Crawler silk, and mane from the Abyss Fall, so it’s quite viscous.
Since a part of the visor is coated with this viscous substance, “soaking” might not be the right word.
The manufacturing process, due to the use of Lapis Laz, has become a state secret, so it cannot be disclosed, which is a drawback.
Furthermore, it was discovered that this technology can also be applied to communication devices, which greatly pleased Yamato.
“So for that reason, we can’t disclose the manufacturing process.”
“A state secret? I never expected it to be such a grand matter.”
“Yes. Also, MARS uses many rare materials, so it’s not suitable for mass production.”
“That’s true.”
Not only the manufacturing process but also the materials, such as A-rank monster parts, make it unsuitable for mass production.
Wing Crests might be easy to gather, but even then, it takes time and the possibility of accidents cannot be denied, so I can’t push for them to be made. Not that I intend to.
“I feel like it doesn’t need to be such a grand thing. Oh, it’s finished.”
“As expected of a Sub-Order’s Master. He defeated it without any struggle.”
“I have experience subjugating them, and the experience from back then was invaluable for us as well.”
While Trust was briefly explaining the reason why MARS’s manufacturing process is not disclosed, Dart easily defeated the Giant Orc illusion.
Only Yamato and his wife Riala witnessed Dart subjugating the Giant Orc on this occasion. According to them, it’s more stable now than it was then.
Riala looks happy to hear her husband praised.
“He made it look easy because he’s a Sub-Order’s Master, but it probably wasn’t that easy in reality…”
“Dart is a High Human, and his level is above the average for High Class.”
Thanks to alloys, the average level of High Class has risen compared to before.
Orders, in particular, have seen a marked increase, with the average level being 50.
It used to be around 43 or 44, so it’s a jump of 6 levels.
“Good work. We’re moving on to the next one, are you okay?”
“No problem, please proceed.”
“Understood. Flam, Ludia, please.”
Yamato, after offering words of encouragement and confirming Dart was fine, gave instructions to Flam and Ludia.
The next target is a G-R rank Blade Fish. Since it’s a completely aquatic species, simply creating an illusion would be meaningless.
We tried this when we first started making them, but they just flopped around like they’d washed ashore. I recall having a headache from it back then, though it was also amusing.
Ludia had seen that too, so this time, before Flam set the magic stone, she changed the barrier pattern to “Underwater.”
Even though it’s underwater, it’s still a barrier, so it doesn’t affect Dart in any way. However, the scenery distorts when viewed, so he seemed a bit bewildered.
“That’s a Blade Fish…”
“It’s my first time seeing one too, but that’s how they swim in the sea.”
Trust and Riala are surprised, but usually, there’s no opportunity to observe aquatic monsters.
The Blade Fish, swimming with its body wriggling side to side, charged straight at Dart upon seeing him.
Dart also hurried to move, but he has conducted monster subjugations near Memoria several times as a Sub-Order’s Master, and I’ve heard he’s leveled up a few times.
However, there seemed to be bewilderment in Dart’s movements. While the barrier pattern is underwater, in reality, it’s different, and Dart’s movements are not restricted. He was explained this beforehand, but that might also be the reason for his confusion.
“Ah!”
“It slashed his left arm. If it were real, it would be severed.”
“But he attacked its abdomen as they passed each other, so I suppose it’s a mutual exchange of damage.”
Riala is worried about Dart, who was struck by the Blade Fish, but Mako and Flam are observing calmly.
Even though I knew it was an illusion, I panicked when Dart was attacked, so I’m more on Riala’s side emotionally.
Is this bad for pregnant women? No, pregnant women often travel between towns, and it’s not uncommon for escorts to subjugate monsters along the way, so I’ll assume this level is fine.
“Dart’s life bar has decreased by about 30%, but the Blade Fish seems to have taken more damage. Even if his left arm were severed, with a Blade Fish, it could be reattached with healing magic.”
“Yes. And since this is an illusion, Dart’s left arm isn’t actually severed. Even if the Overcoat offers some restriction, he’s High Class, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”
Well, yes.
In fact, Dart plunged his sword into the weakened Blade Fish’s head, delivering the finishing blow.
Because it’s an illusion, he won’t get injured, but precisely because it’s an illusion, he can fight normally even after sustaining a fatal wound. In reality, he wouldn’t have such leeway and would just be waiting for death, so this itself seems like a problem.
The life bar is displayed along with the names on the monitor connected to the main unit for up to 30 people. It’s impossible to falsify, and if the life runs out, the illusion will ignore them and attacks won’t pass through. However, being able to fight normally also means being able to escape normally. If one were to genuinely encounter such a situation, they could lose their life.
Oh, by the way, Dart’s shield is custom-made at the Memoria Crafter’s Guild, but his sword was a gift from Yamato when he became a Sub-Order’s Master.
“This is for training to reduce such situations, so anyone who goes on recklessly hunting and encounters such a situation is solely responsible for themselves.”
“Because they’re training, they might think they can do it, but you’re right.”
However, Yamato and Mako easily dismissed it as self-responsibility.
Indeed, MARS was developed with such intentions, and students are thoroughly explained beforehand. But some who don’t understand won’t understand no matter how carefully they’re explained, and those individuals tend to be overly confident. And since Hunters are also a profession with a strong element of self-responsibility, situations where one cannot escape from monsters also fall under complete self-responsibility. Is it implying that even accidental situations must be accepted because they chose to be Hunters?
“Being a Hunter is high-risk, high-return. If you study properly, you can avoid such situations as much as possible. Luck is involved, but that ultimately comes down to insufficient skill, so the point is to gain strength.”
“I have my doubts about luck, but since there’s also participation in subjugation teams, I agree with the opinion to gain strength.”
“I agree too.”
“Me too.”
I found their opinions to be blunt, but the four Hunters didn’t see it that way.
Certainly, I often hear of Hunters who lose their lives by targeting monsters beyond their skill level.
However, with MARS, one can investigate the characteristics and abilities of a monster beforehand. If they become overconfident in their abilities after that, they’ve reached their limit, and they’ve completely accepted that. But when put that way, it does seem reasonable.
Currently, it’s only available at Memoria General Academy, but Yamato’s goal is to install it in at least the Celestial Empire and the Three Kingdoms. If it’s installed in the Three Kingdoms, perhaps the number of reckless Hunters will decrease. I hope that happens, but I don’t know what the actual outcome will be. Dart and Riala share the same opinion, so I’ll resign myself to it. It’s a considerable burden for a pregnant woman, truly.
