Hundreds of thousands of chitin pieces converged, forming a massive pile of miniature golem crabs, their tiny legs intertwined, creating a complex structure.
A few minutes later, a box made of black gold metal was revealed as the chitin scattered.
Its exterior is composed of black gold, a newly developed metal alloy created by combining gold, stainless steel, and mana liquid. This metal block is merely an experimental alloy.
Grid has been researching a new method of converting electricity into mana and vice versa.
With his newfound knowledge in this modern era, solving this problem was a manageable task. His brain, capable of storing and analyzing vast amounts of information, proved to be invaluable.
Although mana is abundant on this planet, it appears to be elusive for others. He has been exploring ways to encourage its interaction with objects and living beings without using magic circles and only technology.
If he uncovers this truth, he may achieve a breakthrough in his past research. In his previous life, being a mage was considered sacred and one had to belong to a unique lineage or be born into a wizarding family.
For commoners, the ability to interact with mana was a distant dream. Yet here on Earth, most living beings seem to be oblivious to it, as the mana here is reportedly a hundred times denser than in his past life. It seems that mana and the physical world repel each other.
Using the new black gold alloy, his idea is to convert the body's existing bio-electricity into mana. With this, he aims to forcefully awaken living beings.
He has been particularly fascinated by slimes, their biology appears unique among beasts. They might be one of this planet's inhabitants, referred to as "aliens."
Grid gazed at the night sky, the stars twinkled, and the cosmos brimmed with wonder. In his past life, contemplating the sky had never crossed his mind.
Now, he wonders, "If aliens are real if reincarnation and other worlds exist, then maybe—just maybe?"
As he reflected on his work and the night sky, his thoughts wandered to the distant future.
"I need to rest tonight. I've been missing from the orphanage for five days, and having a family can sometimes feel burdensome." He thought, yet deep down, he knew it would pain him to lose them.
Months spent with them had melted his cold heart, even if he always denied it. He could not erase the worries he felt for their well-being.
"An Archmage like me thinking about familial matters is strange. In my previous world, everything would have been in flames if the other mages knew this family," Grid clenched his other hand.
"But now, it seems I'm the only mage on this planet. Or perhaps aliens are common here, simply hiding in plain sight," Grid mused.
*Blink*
Grid vanished from the magic building and materialized in front of the orphanage. The sign reading "Sweet Love Orphanage" evoked memories of his new life.
Being born in this orphanage in a chaotic city was a stroke of luck. Unlike other children, he was sheltered and cared for by his guardians.
His older sister, Nicole, had been his greatest protector. Like her, he always dreamed of a peaceful, quiet life away from danger.
While other kids inside were adopted into this happy, healthy family, his parents struggled to put food on the table, yet they never hindered their children's happiness.
Grid's emotions wavered momentarily before he calmed himself, they were still unstable.
As he opened the orphanage door, he was greeted by his sister, who was crying at the table, while the other kids huddled in the corner, trying to console her.
Seeing the situation filled him with guilt, which was quickly replaced by a smile.
"I just need to act like nothing happened," Grid thought, attempting to change his expression.
"Hello, sister. What seems to be the problem?" Grid asked directly.
Nicole, still in tears, looked at Grid before hurling an empty bowl.
"You... You! You little brat! You made everyone worry—Mother and Father!" Nicole shouted, her worried expression morphing into anger.
"Where have you been? Mother and Father were frantic! They searched the city for you. Why didn't you come back after going out?" Nicole's anger subsided, replaced by concern once again.
Grid took a deep breath, feeling the weight of Nicole's words hang in the air. He knew she was right, his absence had caused chaos in their small world.
"I'm sorry, Nicole," he said, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "I lost track of time while working on something important. I didn't mean to worry you or the others."
Nicole's expression softened slightly, though concern remained etched on her face. She crossed her arms, a mix of defiance and care. "Important? You've been gone for five days! What could be so crucial that you'd leave us like this?"
Grid hesitates, memories of his research swirling in his mind. He knew he could share bits of it, but revealing too much could lead to questions he wasn't ready to answer. "I've been experimenting with a new project. It's… complicated," he replied, keeping his tone neutral.
"Complicated? Do you think that makes it okay? We thought something terrible happened to you!" she exclaimed, her voice rising again.
The other children, who had been anxiously watching the exchange, shifted uncomfortably.
"I'm here now, and I'm safe," Grid reassured her, shrugging his shoulders.
For a moment, Nicole's resolve wavered. The thought of normalcy, of laughter and togetherness, tugged at her heart. "You better not be just saying that," she warned, her tone softening further. "And you've already missed so much."
Grid nodded earnestly, relief washing over him as he witnessed a flicker of a smile on her face. "I mean it this time. I'll be more present. You have my word," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder.
As the tension began to ease, one of the younger kids approached Grid, clutching a small stuffed animal. "Are you going to stay this time, Grid?" the child asked, eyes wide with hope.
Grid knelt, meeting the child's gaze. "Absolutely. I'm not going anywhere," he assured, feeling the warmth of their innocence enveloping him.
Nicole wiped her tears, finally allowing a small smile to break through. "Alright, but you better keep that promise," she said, her voice a blend of affection and authority.
Grid stood, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. The world outside might be filled with mysteries and dangers, but right now, his family needed him. And perhaps, in caring for them, he could discover more about himself and the magic surrounding them.
As the evening unfolded, laughter echoed through the orphanage, filling the spaces where worry had lingered. Grid felt the warmth of belonging, a stark contrast to the cold solitude he had often embraced in his past life.
...
Inside a makeshift hut, the duo looked at Sian in disbelief. Although they had already seen him operate the mech, they could hardly believe their eyes.
Like children in a toy store, they gazed at the mech, their eyes sparkling with excitement.
Sian, overwhelmed by their enthusiasm, finally spoke up. "Stop it, boss! Jerry!" The duo turned to him.
"Okay, I just got excited looking at it, even Jerry is hooked," Bob admitted.
With a nod, Jerry reached out, gently tracing the lines of the mech from its shoulder to its hand, the lines that shine and almost ethereal captivate him.
"Yes, this is the first time I've seen a war machine like this. Although it looks slim, it might be stronger than the current military mechs. It could even be the best mech suit out there," Jerry continued inspecting it. "You said there's AI inside this thing?" he asked.
"Yes, but it seems to only respond to its master," Sian replied. After a moment's thought, he added, "Let's ask. Guardian-01, can we pose some questions?"
Silence filled the room for a minute until the mech suddenly powered up.
*Pishh*
"Protocol interaction enabled. What are your questions, rider Sian?" the mech asked, startling the trio.
"What functions do you have?" Sian inquired directly.
"Guardian-01 is the first mech designed by the master to assist him in his tasks. Though I am the first of my kind, I possess many functions that are likely more beneficial than any other mech design," the mech replied, pausing for effect.
"I am engineered to withstand explosions of up to a hundred tons without sustaining damage, composed of magic steel that renders me nearly indestructible. As the first mech created by the master, I have a protocol to upgrade myself after every battle to ensure that my master's work remains uninterrupted."
"What about the other box? Is it a mech too?" Bob asked, glancing at the blue box near the mech.
"The weapon box is another mech, consisting of two independent units. Although they are still connected to me, you can think of them as a sort of pet."
"Also what do you mean magic steel? " Bob asked again with confusion.
The mech looked at him for a second before replying, it's reply shocked them to the core and beliefs of their existing world.