113 – The Period (1)

Caught off guard by the unexpected proposition, I turned to look at Baek So-yeon, who had been listening with me.

She frowned. For a moment, I thought she’d unleash a torrent of curses on them for trying to poach me…

But she didn’t.

Instead, she massaged her forehead.

“…An artificial island? Is that actually…possible? Or is it just an excuse to impose mandatory taxes?”

“It was actually in progress, just without much success. It was also the main focus of the Eternal Workshop. Do you know why Seo-yeon went searching for inspiration? Because she kept hitting walls. Current technology has its limits. But… if that adorable child joins us, things might change.”

“……?”

Listening to them, I couldn’t help but feel…

They were making a grave error.

“I can only make specialized equipment, though?”

“Because it’s specialized. If we consider it the pinnacle of technological prowess in this era, we could call it specialized equipment, couldn’t we?”

“…I’m an expert in ability factor-related technology. I don’t know anything beyond that. Everything else I’ve learned is just supplementary skills, picked up while mastering specialized equipment techniques. I don’t think I have anything particularly impressive to offer.”

“…Tsk. Seo-jun, are you being humble, or do you just not want to do this?”

“Both sides?”

“Why?”

“Well…”

I conjured up an absurdly grand-scale project in my mind.

Dedicated equipment? It was a kind of romance for me. The process of creating it was enjoyable, so I worked hard at it, but the rest wasn’t something I particularly *wanted* to do.

More like, I did it because it was necessary. But just looking at this, it seemed like the kind of project that, if I got tangled up in it wrong, would bleed into all my personal time…

“To put it bluntly, it’s not really my area of interest.”

“…Hmm.”

“An artificial island where ability-holders live…? Sounds good. It does sound good. But… it doesn’t really resonate with me. I don’t particularly want to do it. I’m not interested in the architectural field. Expanding the underground facilities like this was something I did out of necessity. It was just supplementary. But that’s being turned on its head? If I’m not interested in the work, I’ll obviously do a half-assed job, and if I do a half-assed job, I’ll obviously get stuck with the blame.”

“Even as a mere advisor?”

“That boundary is a little… ambiguous, isn’t it? What if my advice is wrong? If a hole is punched in the bottom of that so-called artificial paradise because of it, and everyone sinks… it’ll be my fault, won’t it? I don’t want that. Seriously. If tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of people drown because of me… Ugh. I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night.”

I don’t like it.

I really don’t want to do it.

From the beginning, I wasn’t very interested in the architectural field. That was the biggest reason.

“Plus, it’s not fun.”

“Fun, you say…”

“I’m not very interested in architecture, so how about looking for someone else? Since you need an alliance or support, how about making a contract related to dedicated equipment instead…”

“Lee Seo-joon.”

Cha Seo-yoon crossed her arms.

“Do you remember the initial contract with the Black Market?”

“…The initial support? Ah. Yes. I remember. But isn’t that a different story from this?”

“That’s right. It’s a different story. But I remember the Black Market never taking a single commission from Lee Seo-joon-ssi. Isn’t that right?”

“…Well. Things got a little tangled up along the way… well, yeah. So?”

“I don’t think we can change the contract belatedly. But… couldn’t you consider it just a little bit? How about voiding the original contract itself, and making a new contract with both the Black Market and Quantum? What we want is truly just advice. That’s all there is to it. We won’t demand responsibility. We can promise support just for providing technical advice.”

“…Really, just advice?”

“Really, just advice. That’s how the story went from the beginning, after all. And Lee Seo-joon-ssi. More importantly, this isn’t just an architectural issue.”

Cha Seo-yoon rummaged around and took something out.

Something unidentifiable inside a transparent glass tube. But I knew exactly what it was.

“…How do you have that?”

“A new energy crystal, VT-100. However, it’s not at a level where it can be commercialized, so it’s just a temporary name. When a proper theory is established and it’s revealed to the world, then…”

A small glass vial.

I accepted it.

…Look at this. This is…it.

Though imperfect, undeniably it.

The artificial esper factor I developed myself.

Infinitely close to it…

“This is what we call an artificial esper factor. And with this, we plan to move the artificial island.”

A defective product, I see.

. . .

Do you know the difference between 99 and 100?

The former is only one shy of perfection, yet is branded as defective.

100 is called flawless, and thus, complete.

The artificial esper factor in my hand was like that. To be honest, I called it 99 because of the comparison…

This, though.

It’s not even worth 10 points.

“…Hmm.”

Incredibly incomplete.

Incredibly explosive.

Incredibly fragile.

Isn’t this a defect that’s embarrassing to even call an artificial esper factor?

I can’t even understand why they’re bringing this up now. But before asking that, there was a mountain of things I wanted to point out about it.

Bringing something this ambiguous before me is akin to insulting my pride as a specialized equipment artisan.

Let’s start by pointing out the problems. The rest of the story can wait.

“This is fundamentally flawed, you know?”

I, too, have created an artificial esper factor.

A genuine, proper result that is infinitely distant from this.

But even that had a relatively high probability of failure. Like swallowing a nuclear bomb.

And yet, they present this crude form, as if they were proud of it.

“…Mr. Lee Seo-jun. There are many things I want to correct, but first, I must point something out. This object is a product of collaboration between numerous artisans, and a long-term investment.”

“You shouldn’t pass off a defect as a finished product. You plan to use this as is? If you force something like this to operate, it’ll explode. It’s debatable whether it can even be called an esper factor, but seeing as how the form is somewhat similar…It’ll be a disaster if you mishandle it. It’s not just going to explode. It’ll ruin all connected machinery and materials. Esper factors have a strong inherent connectivity, so if any connected machinery exists, everything from the internal circuits will be destroyed. That’s usually why the entire specialized equipment fails when it malfunctions.”

I handed the glass vial back to Cha Seo-yoon.

“You called it VT-100…be honest with me. This doesn’t work, does it? Forget commercialization, it probably won’t even *turn on*. That’s not an Artificial Ability Factor. Just a convincing shell, the internals are clearly broken. I’d bet my career on it. It’s a counterfeit, a cheap imitation. Calling this an Artificial Ability Factor is absurd.”

“…You’re as sharp as they say. You’re right. It *is* the 100th revised model, but it doesn’t actually output any real Ability energy. It malfunctions… frequently.”

“Frequently malfunctioning isn’t the issue, it doesn’t work *at all*! The only reason it hasn’t exploded is because it’s not an Artificial Ability Factor in the first place. If something without any circuits or inscriptions doesn’t explode… then it can’t be called an Artificial Ability Factor, plain and simple.”

“…….”

“Look, Ability Factors only manifest within living beings. They don’t mesh with machines. Artificial things just don’t jive with them, not even a little. Imagine trying to replicate human movement with machines. Starting from scratch, with nothing. What do you think would happen? It’d fail, obviously. Natural and artificial things are just too different. Creating an Artificial Ability Factor is an incredibly complex undertaking… you can’t just whip one up this easily.”

“…….? Are…are you implying you know how to make one? An Artificial Ability Factor that can be incorporated into machines?”

“That’s not why I’m here, Ms. Cha Seo-yoon. All you need to know is that developing Artificial Ability Factors for use on an artificial island is impossible. This project is doomed. You can try, but the trial and error will drain your budget dry. Creating even the prototype for an Artificial Ability Factor requires incredibly advanced equipment…and every time you fail, it’ll all be gone.”

“…S-still, there might be some sliver of hope…”

“It won’t work.”

I condensed that long, drawn-out explanation into one.

“It. Won’t. Work. It has no future. But…it’s not *entirely* impossible.”

“…Huh?”

“Is the reason you’re telling me this because the reason that lifting the artificial island up is impossible is because of energy issues? You’re thinking of using a highly efficient process to improve Artificial Ability Factors and use them for a bio-generator?”

“Not quite. To be precise, what we want is an artificial island that’s also an all-weather defensive fortress, completely impenetrable to outside and inside attacks. A paradise, in the truest sense of the word. An island so impregnable that no matter what Ability a Holder uses to try and destroy it, it can withstand it. The strongest island in the world.”

At that, I realized what she was getting at.

“So, to maximize the island’s defense, you intend to use Artificial Ability Factors? Banking on the fact that, when honed to its limit… an Ability Factor can become stronger than any material on Earth?”

“Exactly.”

“…Then that foundation of paradise that you’re talking about…could it be…”

“It was constructed using the same principles as when creating specialized equipment. It’s not for nothing that the expenses were astronomical.”

*Well, now.*

Looking at it this way…

Ironically, this wouldn’t be in the field of architecture, would it?

A massive metal construct, nearly an island in size, whose foundation is made of special metal that conducts Ability energy?

This is essentially…

Meddling with giant, land-sized equipment.

A chance to participate in the design of enormous, island-sized equipment?

How could a craftsman resist such a proposition?

My previously disinterested body began leaning forward abruptly.

And if the conversation is turning down *this* path…

“I think I can put this to good use, perhaps?”

“Even if it’s not directly related to artificial Ability Factors… I believe there might be something I can contribute?”

“Pardon? What do you mean…”

“I’ve been working on something lately. An ability of mine that Cha Seo-yoon wouldn’t know about.”

“Could it be… that peculiar energy that was captured in that video…”

“The energy I extract using my ability is somewhat versatile, and after working with it continuously, I’ve even reached a point where I can extract it to some extent mechanically. And the thing is… its solidity is beyond words. If that so-called ‘energy crystal’ is used well… I think it could encompass the entirety of Paradise. For the kind of overwhelming defense you’re aiming for.”

“…I’m not quite following… so… regardless, are you saying you’ll support us with this?”

“Support… is it. I like that. Support. Well then, on the condition that I help with the mechanical design to make that entire Paradise into a truly unshakeable ‘Paradise’…”

A plan formed in my mind.

I put the finishing touch on it.

“That island. I’d like to use it for personal purposes, just once. Is that at all possible? Of course, that includes the alliance.”