Ch.311Completion! Purifier

After receiving Melissa’s official acknowledgment of my relationship with Mina, we moved to the exhibition area to check on the progress of the bio-converter.

The interpretation of the Dark Sword’s formula had already been completed, and about 60-70% of the converter circuit production was finished.

The prototype of the all-in-one bio-converter black furnace would be completed tomorrow, but they planned to conduct a 2-3 day test operation with measuring instruments connected to thoroughly verify its safety.

However, unlike the smoothly progressing bio-converter, the research on reverse-engineering the Dark Sword’s formula to return Iris to an elf was facing difficulties.

It seemed that just as it’s easy to turn clear water into ink by dropping ink into it, the reverse process was much harder.

Moreover, they couldn’t test this incomplete theory on Iris’s body, so it would likely take more time before she could regain her elven form and return to the Willow Sanctuary.

“That’s unfortunate. I thought everything would fall into place once we got our hands on the Dark Sword.”

“There’s still hope though. If we can confirm the biological compatibility between elves and dark elves through the bio-converter, in the worst case, she might be able to handle pure magical power even as a dark elf. If that happens, we could buy some time for the Willow Sanctuary, right?”

“That’s true. If we can stabilize the Spirit Tree before the previous Elder’s blessing disappears, it wouldn’t be a problem even if it takes a bit longer to return Sister Iris to an elf.”

“I was planning to help with your journey using the bio-converter for the time being anyway.”

Though Iris smiled as she said this, I knew she harbored some hesitation about returning to a complete elven body.

According to Iris’s view, just as Royce Reich controlled the dark elves, the Spirit Tree also exerted a brainwashing-like influence on the elven race’s minds.

‘Even if we find a way to return her to an elf, it would be better to understand what the Spirit Tree’s influence actually is first.’

When I looked at Iris with that thought in mind, she slightly nodded her head so that others wouldn’t notice.

Since the elven race’s acquisition of the Spirit Tree solution is likely connected to the activities of the Great Sage Deidric Asmad, let’s hope we can find clues as we continue our adventure.

After our discussion ended, we returned to the residential area, had dinner together with Melissa, and discussed our future plans.

Jessica would help Mina with the production of magic circuits.

Phyllis would assist Iris in completing the theory of magical power conversion between elves and dark elves.

Seti and I would go to Westend Seventh again in a couple of days to sell horses.

What was unexpected was Melissa’s plans.

As a dwarf, she could use the black furnace, so staying in Technopolis wouldn’t be a problem.

Morgan’s group also enthusiastically welcomed her, as she had provided crucial clues to the discovery of Technopolis…

Surprisingly, Melissa expressed her intention to return to Westend Seventh with us by carriage two days later.

“I have a contract for joint mining of a newly discovered gem mine with Eisenheim. No matter how well Offen is handling it as my proxy, I can’t be negligent as the person in charge.”

“Oh… I’m sorry for bringing you all the way here when you’re so busy.”

“It’s fine. No matter how important the mine is, it’s not as important as my child. Besides…”

Melissa looked at Mina, who was engaged in serious conversation with Jessica and Iris, and smiled contentedly.

“It was worth coming here just to see Minarette so passionately immersed in something.”

“From what we’ve seen, Mina has always been like that.”

“She wasn’t like that at the mine. She had dreams of becoming the best magical tool craftsman, but she was always frustrated and irritable because of the reality that she couldn’t get her hands on artifacts.”

“Mom! What are you telling Will?”

“It’s the truth, isn’t it? There shouldn’t be any secrets between a couple considering marriage. Come to think of it, when you were seven, from Dad’s toolbox…”

“Aaaah! No, no! No childhood stories!! Absolutely not!”

Having apparently overheard our conversation, Mina came running over with a clatter to stop Melissa.

Mina’s childhood dark history… I should ask about it when we visit the Black Forge Mine later.

~~~ 5 days later, Technopolis entrance ~~~

Over the next five days, we traveled between Technopolis and Westend Seventh twice, sent Melissa off, sold all the remaining horses, and helped Mina with her work.

Although it took longer than expected, progress was smooth, and the experiment to extract black magical power from the four of us—me, Jessica, Seti, and Phyllis—was successful.

After working to miniaturize the room-sized black furnace—

“Finally! The first model of the ‘Purifier,’ a small black furnace equipped with an improved bio-converter, is complete!”

“Ohhh~!”

*clap clap clap clap*

A cylindrical small black furnace, about 1 meter in diameter and 1.5 meters in height, revealed its impressive form.

Incidentally, the name “Purifier” was given because this device, with all furnace and magical power generation functions removed and only the black magic purification function remaining, could no longer be called a “black furnace.”

“Even though it’s called small, it’s still big enough for a person to fit inside.”

“Can’t be helped. I minimized it as much as possible for purification purposes only, but there are structural limitations to maintain the minimum necessary performance.”

“The appearance and size don’t matter. More importantly, with this device, can we really operate freely without worrying about black magical power?”

“Of course!…is what I’d like to say, but it’s not quite there yet. The more black magic it absorbs, the higher the output of the black furnace becomes, increasing the burden on Iris. We also need to periodically process the condensed black magic mass inside. For now, the limit is about a month.”

“That’s still an amazing achievement. If this device could be widely announced and distributed, Mina would be revered as an even greater figure than the Great Sage Deidric Asmad.”

As Jessica said, this device created by Mina could rewrite the history of the Western Frontier Project.

It’s been 100 years since the pioneers crossed over to Grantis.

This is a revolutionary invention that could dramatically improve the “activity limitations under black magical power influence” problem that no one had been able to solve during that time.

“Well… in reality, it shouldn’t be revealed to anyone.”

“That’s true. In some ways, it’s even more dangerous than those artifacts.”

The issue is that this device is a miraculous product that can only exist through the presence of Iris Eidra, the exceptionally unique individual who is both the successor to the Elven Elder and possesses the body of a dark elf.

It’s painfully obvious that if its existence were revealed, let alone mass-produced or its design published, countless people would target us, especially Iris.

We cannot expose Iris, who was kidnapped by dark elves and suffered for five years, to such danger again.

“For the time being, let’s use this device only to the extent that others won’t notice… so what’s next? Continue exploring the uncharted areas around Westend Seventh?”

“That wouldn’t be bad, but how about moving toward the planned site for the 8th Western City?”

“Are we going to meet Jessica’s parents?”

“Ahaha… that’s not the main purpose, but I think it’s about time.”

Jessica spoke while looking at the Ancestor, the camping carriage, and the improved black furnace that Mina had completed.

“Adventuring around an unfinished city is quite challenging. Without information about the surrounding terrain or monsters, unexpected accidents are more likely to occur, and supplies and accommodations are severely lacking, making it difficult to resupply or rest. But we have the means to solve all these problems, don’t we?”

“That’s right. We can survey the terrain with Aquila, and our supply capabilities have been proven multiple times. And as for rest environments, there’s nothing more to say.”

“And with the Purifier, even if unexpected situations arise, we won’t have to worry about dying from black magical power.”

A situation where we can avoid all anticipated risks while expecting high returns.

Certainly, under these conditions, there’s no reason to hesitate about adventuring at the planned site for the 8th Western City… the western frontier.

If we can thoroughly test the performance of the improved black furnace while operating there, and through repeated modifications make it operable semi-permanently, even a journey to the far western end wouldn’t be just a dream.

“Alright, let’s go then. To the planned site for the 8th Western City.”

To find undiscovered mysteries in places others cannot reach.

And to meet Jessica’s parents to get their blessing for our marriage.

We headed toward the last outpost of pioneers established in Grantis.