Repairing Service Doll Baretta was fraught with many difficulties.
This advanced magic tool from the ancient magic civilization was quite a piece of intricate mechanism.
I broke apart the other service dolls we found in the ruins that were in damaged conditions due to degradation over time as samples, analyzed each and every component, and recorded their details.
Then I created new parts one by one through «Creation Magic» after comprehending their structure and tried to incorporate them into Baretta but......
"It's not working, huh? It's not within our means to create, it seems. It's as if Baretta's body is rejecting them."
"There's nothing that can be done?"
«Yes, the manufacturer's black box is installed among one of the components of a service doll and that black box is the core secret of the manufacturer and has been adjusted so that it can't be analyzed.»
They really didn't cut corners with their design huh, that ancient magic civilization.
They’ve set up measures so that the magic tools can't be replicated which was why we were unable to repair Baretta.
"Good grief, this really left me with no options. I don't have enough technical prowess to pull one over them."
Some parts can be reproduced through handicraft-like magical tool-making technology. However, the closer we were to the core component, the more intricate and secretive the technology became.
"As expected of an unusual artifact. It's out of my league."
Teto looked worried but Baretta, in contrast, replied with a flat expression.
«There's nothing that can be done if it's impossible to repair. So Master can scrap this body of mine which can't even be of service to you and get some precious metal resources, at least, for closure.»
"Geez, you should stop with your silly words already. I might not be able to repair it but it doesn't mean I gave up on repairing you."
This discovery has made it clear that I must look for a different approach.
I laid Baretta on the bed like usual and went to sleep earlier that day.
And in the dream一一
"Please tell me how I can repair Baretta. I beg you."
«I wouldn't mind helping out Chise but it's impossible.»
«Goddesses aren't actually omnipotent. We have no way.»
After reaching the dead end in a way to repair Baretta, I initiated a dream oracle, which was usually done by goddesses, this time and requested their help.
"But Liliel and Lariel are the gods watching over this continent, right? Do you have any hints like if there's any clan who can fix her?"
I asked, but they shook their heads with troubled expressions.
«Unfortunately, no. To begin with, the technology to fix her has ceased to exist and there has been a drastic change in how the world has progressed compared to before so you can say the world might no longer be able to develop a similar kind of technology.»
"I don't quite understand it."
From there on began a discussion about the transition from the creation myth to the current era by the goddesses.
The Creation God first created the continents and gods. Then it was the birth of living beings including both people and monsters.
After their creation was the dawn of the Genesis & Chaos eras where the gods guided people to their respective continents using a multitude of magic.
The miracles, or natural phenomena in another perspective, caused by the gods apparently became the origin of “Genesis Magic”.
The advent of Genesis Magic welcomed the era where gods no longer interfered with people's lives and chose to just watch over them. People began to study the weapons and spells conferred to them by the gods, put those research into use, and expanded upon them. 5000 years later, it resulted in the peak of the ancient magic civilization.
«And then the reckless behavior of the magic civilization 2000 years ago caused the majority of the advancement in civilization to regress. It was at that time when we altered the rules of the world and introduced the system of skills and statuses to protect the survivors due to the massive loss in mana.»
The concept of skills and statuses didn't exist before that.
People of the low mana region leveled up using statuses or had their physical bodies altered through skill correction to raise their survivability.
«We then start summoning reincarnators like Chise or transferring mana from another world after that to focus on restoring the world. Civilization made rather quick progress in the beginning but it completely stopped growing at a point and that is now the current era.»
In the beginning, civilization had advanced until they were on the same level as the early period of medieval Europe in 300 years.
But it wasn't known whether it was due to the influence of magic or status, but even when reincarnated individuals temporarily boosted civilization, it didn't last for long.
«The civilization isn't able to progress steadily because of the monsters and infighting among fellow humans, but, above all, it’s due to the appearance of irregulars which weren't in our initial plan.»
"Irregulars?"
«That's right. People weren't the only ones who were granted statuses but also magic tools and monsters. This became the catalyst for the birth of the demonic race. Well, they're part of the second generation of mankind.»
In short, the goddesses called the humans who were created by them in the creation myth or the several other primary races derived from them like Elves, Dwarves, and Beastkin the first generation of mankind while the demonic race or existences referred to as irregulars were called the second generation of mankind.
«That's why our hands are tied in helping out with technology. You see, it has been 2000 years already and the world has yet to discover the technique to navigate through the ocean. It wouldn't be impossible for other continents to be ruled by demonic races instead of humans.»
«Though it's because there were very few changes introduced by them when the mana was at its lowest point in the aftermath of the magic civilization's reckless action...... well that's the gist of everything.»
"I see. The variation in the world's system itself brought about different races."
The explanation seemed like it slightly turned into the goddesses venting out their complaints midway.
That being said, while there was a difference between the first and the second born, both of them were looked after by goddesses most likely.
However, I also saw a hint among all this that might be able to repair Baretta.
"Thank you. I think I got the hint on how to repair Baretta."
«Woah, you really found one? Just what're you planning to do......»
"Well, it's basicallyーー"
Liliel showed her surprise while Lariel burst out into laughter when I explained my idea to them.
«Ahahaha! You really are full of surprises! Indeed it's not a method that could’ve been pulled off 2000 years ago!»
«But this plan has some feasibility......»
I woke up from the dream after receiving an okay from both goddesses.
Then I began with my plan to repair Baretta under their advice一一
"Baretta. We're going to repair your body today."
«But Master, didn't we conclude that it's not possible just yesterday?»
I then explained my method to Baretta who asked so.
"First, we can repair you only using the currently available method since I don't have a way to get the technology from 2000 years ago."
The dark clouds of despair hovered above Baretta when I once again spoke of the fact.
"You see, I wracked my brain to look for a method to repair inorganic beings in the current era and the answer I reached was...... Her."
"Teto-nanodesu?"
I pointed at Teto.
She was originally a mud golem who later become an earthnoid demonic being一ーor more precisely, one of the second generation of mankind.
That clay golem assimilated a mentally broken spirit into itself, went through self-modification, and achieved evolution.
When you speak of inorganic things that are the most famous for their regeneration, then it's the magic sword.
If we gave Baretta the self-repair ability that is granted to magic swords, she would be able to return to her former self with some patience and mana.
"So we're going to restore Baretta by getting her the «Self-Regeneration» skill. There's a chance Baretta might undergo mutation and become a demonic race in the process. This is the method I have come up with."
«I see. But how am I going to receive that skill?»
"Here, with this."
As for how I'm going to get her the skill, it was simple. We just have her use the «Self-Regeneration» skill orb I created with «Creation Magic».
"I'm going to use it to give you the skill. But whether to opt for it or not, I'm leaving this decision to you."
«To, me? Master isn't going to decide?»
"No, I'm not sure if everything will proceed according to my prediction. That's why I want Baretta to decide by her own will. Will you use it, or will you wait for the technology to advance enough to repair you? It's up to you."
But of course, I swore not to abandon Baretta whatever the option she chose.
«I'm but a soulless Service Doll. There's no way such a person can ever be put on the same rank as living people. Butーー»
Baretta looked at me with a serious glint in her eyes.
«Even if this may be a body without a soul, I'm going to take the option offered by Master to repay the debt of picking me up. If I have to pass time like this without being able to fulfill my goal due to my current disability, then I would like to bet on the possibility provided by Master.»
"Very well. But listen, not once did we think that you didn't have a soul."
"That's right. Teto was also a mud golem in the beginning. That's why stop saying such sad things."
Teto and I said this and pushed the skill orb to her heart一一 just right above her core, and we were able to grant Beretta the «Self-Regeneration» skill.
«Master, was it a success?»
"I can't say yet. But let's check your condition first."
Although it was a regeneration skill, its level was too low to show any visible changes right away.
However一一
«Master, my mana is rapidly depleting. I will enter sleep mode at this rate.»
"Ah, let's fill up your mana then. 一一«Charge»!"
«U, unn......nhn!?»
A strange moaning voice leaked out of Baretta just as I recharged her mana the same way I filled up Teto's mana.
"Baretta?"
«......Excuse my behavior. I'm fine now.»
I concluded this might be another side effect of using the skill orb so I let Baretta rest that day.
It became clear later on that the rapid depletion of her mana was due to the skill starting to restore her body. It had begun with the regeneration of the damaged parts that weren't visible, then the artificial skin and muscles formed over her metallic frame. After that, beautiful blue hair grew out of her bald head.
Regeneration of her limbs started in the last stage. It began with her both arms first and that too was only a few centimeters. Nevertheless, her arms were regrown fully a few months later.
I created a wheelchair for her with «Creation Magic» which she could use with her two hands to freely move in the house when it was time for the winter season, and gave her some wool and books about knitting as she seemed to have taken interest in it.
«I can't let Master catch a cold in my wake. I will prepare some woolen underwear.»
"Err, that's a bit embarrassing...... but I would like to have them. Thank you."
It was a bit embarrassing that her first gift to me wasn't a muffler but woolen panties. Nevertheless, it was filled with her thoughtfulness.
Her legs finished growing during winter and in the early spring one year after we met her一ー
"Baretta, how does the ground from 2000 years into the future feel?"
"Ohh, Baretta, you're a bit bigger than Teto. Your posture is so beautiful!"
Baretta was standing there in a knee-length maid dress prepared for that day, her pretty blue hair tied behind her head, and assuming a beautiful stance.
«......Master, Teto-sama, thank you very much for your care. Service Doll Baretta is now ready to support the Master in her life from today onwards.»
"Congratulations. Also, there's good news. I have confirmed that you truly have a soul."
I had been appraising Baretta every day since her regeneration began and meticulously looked out for any variation in her condition.
And as of this moment, Beretta had achieved complete regener一一 no, has ended her self-modification and completed her evolution.
一一Baretta «Race: Mechanoid»
It should be a machine-related race. She mutated into a demonic race like Teto.
And Baretta who noticed this fact silently averted her face as tears flowed out.
So Teto and I gently took her into our arms and comforted her.
