The time it had taken to complete the project was remarkably short—unbelievably so.
Honestly, I couldn’t really grasp it. When my parents did this, it took them nearly two years, but that was because they had to design everything from scratch. If someone asked me to do this from zero, there’s no way I could pull it off.
We already had a basic blueprint, most of the magic formulas could be reused, the materials were prepared, and, on top of that, mother, who had experience from the previous time, was with us. So, even though it took two years back then and only nine days this time, I can’t help but feel like we’re just riding on the achievements of those who came before us.
That being said, it was done.
And yes, we pulled an all-nighter to finish it.
By the end, everyone was utterly exhausted. So, after contacting Sidera via the communication crystal, we all slept like logs for half a day.
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「This flavor is so comforting… It seeps into your tired body,」
The next morning—or rather, it was technically already noon.
After a refreshing sleep, we were ready for some good food.
Grandma Seralinde, holding a bowl of miso soup, smiled warmly.
「I’m glad you like it. I was a bit worried.」
「It’s a flavor I’m not familiar with, but it suits my taste.」
「Grandma Sui’s soup, like? Mint too!」
「Well, that makes me happy. Yes, just like you.」
Sitting side by side with Mint, both smiling, Grandma took delicate spoonfuls, while Mint hugged the bowl with both hands, bringing it up to her mouth. Today’s soup was made with iriko dashi, with tofu and daikon as the main ingredients.
By now, Karen and mother were completely used to miso soup, and it had become a staple of their daily breakfast. I’m thinking it’s about time we tried some grilled nori too, though I still don’t fully understand the process to make it… We do harvest it from the northern sea, so maybe I’ll start by trying to make tsukudani.
「Thank you for the food.」
「That was delicious.」
With breakfast and lunch wrapped up, we couldn’t afford to laze around.
Winter was deepening, and in about ten days, the year would come to a close. Soon, snow would start piling up, and adventurers would stop venturing into the forest.
In other words, our time to set up the system was running out.
「I’m heading to Sidera now.」
I informed Ji Liz through the communication crystal while heading to the guest room that had become our makeshift workshop. I walked over to ‘that’ and lifted it carefully.
『That』
It was shaped like half a sphere, with a brim that was slightly larger in diameter attached to the bottom half.
The size was about fifty centimeters across. You could say it looked somewhat like a straw hat, but unlike a hat, it wasn’t hollow, and it was made of metal. To me, a different comparison came to mind.
In short, a flying saucer.
As I held it in my arms, I muttered to myself in reflection.
「I never thought the ‘familiar’ mother talked about would turn out to be a machine like this.」
That’s right.
My parents had developed the GPM(Global Positioning Magic)—an arcane network that launched familiars into the sky as satellites to reflect magical energy and triangulate positional data. This device we built was similar to one of those ‘familiars.’
Of course, there were key differences between this and the GPM(Global Positioning Magic).
The familiars in the GPM(Global Positioning Magic) were in high orbit, with hundreds of them scattered across the continent, reflecting magical energy but not transmitting anything.
This one, on the other hand, wasn’t going to fly that high, and we only had one. On top of that, unlike the GPM familiars, this one could emit magical signals.
At its core was the Fairy’s Tear, Color-san’s gift to Karen.
Inside, it housed an intricate magical circuit I had woven using New Moon Steel, a special adamant alloy infused with my own magic. The exterior was reinforced with Eclipse Iron and Orichalcum, giving it formidable durability and an ‘indestructible’ attribute that should keep it running for millennia, even long after I’m gone.
This, in essence, was my solution.
By leveraging the GPM(Global Positioning Magic), we would use this familiar to monitor the entire Void Forest. On the ground, observation devices would be placed strategically. If the concentration of magical energy in any area surpassed a certain threshold, the devices would relay that information through the familiar to a measurement crystal stationed at home.
The location data received would be visualized as the magic apparatus automatically transcribed it onto a map. This used the same technology as the Boundary Fusion Phenomenon Observation Device that mother developed, and with both systems combined, we would be able to monitor the emergence of the Teikou from the comfort of our home.
As I stepped into the yard, holding the flying saucer familiar, Karen and Chocola came running up to me.
「Sui, Sidera just contacted us. The observation devices are ready, the required number has been completed.」
I’d need to have those devices sync up with this familiar through a magical resonance at least once.
「Got it, perfect timing. Now we’re just waiting on Ji Liz.」
「Hmm. We’re coming too.」
「Bark! Barrkk!」
「Karen, are you sure you’re okay? You’re not tired?」
「I’m fine. I slept really well. If anything, I need to move my body, or I won’t be able to sleep tonight.」
「I see. Chocola seems… as usual.」
「Bark bark!」
Naturally, the ones pulling the all-nighters were me, Karen, mother, and Grandma Seralinde. Chocola, Pochi, and Mint were as lively as ever—well, in Chocola’s case, missing his walks probably left him feeling a bit stressed.
「You know, you could go on a quick expedition with mother, get a good run in?」
「Grr… Bark!」
「Coming with me, huh? Thanks, I appreciate it. Good girl, good girl.」
Though today would mostly be taken up by the trip to and from Sidera, tomorrow would be full of exercise for him, so that should help him let off some steam.
While I was playing around with Chocola, mother, grandma, and Mint came out to see us off.
「Sui-kun, Karen, mother heading out to distribute the observation devices. Aunt-sama will be watching the house while I’m gone.」
「I’m sorry I can’t help more. If only I had the ability to venture into the deeper parts of the forest… It’s frustrating.」
「Uuuuu! Grandma stay and watch Mint and Pochi?」
「Yes, we can’t leave Pochi alone, can we? Mint is so clever.」
「Mmmf!」
Their cheerful exchange was comforting. Honestly, having Grandma here has been a huge help, not just for creating the familiar but also for watching over the house.
「Grandma, if you don’t mind, would you consider staying with us for a while? That’s if your work allows it…」
「Of course. I’ll be happy to. The Research Bureau can manage without me for a while, so I’ll be your house sitter.」
「Grandma, stay longer?」
「Yes, and I look forward to spending lots of time with you, Mint.」
Grandma gently stroked Mint’s head, who clung to her waist with joy, then looked up at the sky with a soft smile.
「Ah, Ji Liz-dono has arrived. Go ahead, Sui, Karen. Kazuteru and Viole must have had the same look on their faces as you two do now.」
「Yeah… I bet father had a lot of fun with this.」
I couldn’t help but smile wryly, knowing exactly what that meant.
When the GPM(Global Positioning Magic) was first brought to life, mother had handled the internal design of the familiars, while father had taken care of their exterior.
Imagining what father must have thought and felt when designing these familiars made me chuckle.
In the sky above this world, there were small UFOs floating in satellite orbits. It was a sight that probably looked completely out of place in this fantasy world, though no one could actually see it. Still, the thought of it was endlessly amusing.
「Hey, that reminds me…」
As Ji Liz descended, I glanced over at father’s grave and muttered.
「Back when I was a kid, I asked him, ‘Do aliens exist?’ didn’t I?」
I can’t remember if it was from a kid’s book or some occult TV show that had piqued my curiosity, but I had asked him that question. His answer?
—Well… maybe. Who knows?
—There could be all sorts of UFOs floating up there.」
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「One more coming up, father.」
I lifted the homemade flying saucer familiar, showing it off to father’s grave.
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