After putting the exhausted Yuna to bed, Jis returned to the table where the group was waiting.
Sipping tea brewed from herbs, he continued the conversation that had been interrupted earlier.
Jis: "...So, you’re planning to enter the autonomous zone through the Loop smuggling route? That’s why you need an interpreter."
Shirone: "Yes. Yuna said you’re quite skilled. I’d like to know how good you are."
Jis: "I can handle everyday conversations without a problem. I can guide you. But... the autonomous zone. Hmm."
Jis stroked his chin.
Shirone: "What’s wrong? Is there something bothering you?"
Jis: "No, it’s fine. If it’s where you want to go, I’ll guide you anywhere. But I don’t know why you’re going there, but that place is special. I’ve gotten that feeling a lot while working there. Plus, the Galliant government strictly controls access. Are you sure you’ll be okay?"
Shirone: "The government controls access? But the Galliant government and the Kergo Autonomous Zone are separate administrative bodies. Can’t they just do as they please?"
Jis: "Of course. But our administrative district is the problem. We’re not part of the Kergo Autonomous Zone but operate on the island with permission from the Galliant government. And the Galliant government strictly prohibits entry into the native autonomous zones. It’s mostly nominal control, but I think there’s a reason they do it. Sorry if I’m rambling."
Shirone: "No, it’s fine. We didn’t know either. But our decision to go hasn’t changed. Of course, that’s if you’re willing to guide us, Jis."
Jis: "Of course I will! Who else would guide you but Jis?"
Confidently thumping his chest, Jis winced in pain from his injuries.
After enduring the pain for a while, he continued with a pained expression.
Jis: "But with my body in this state, I’m not sure if I can move around properly."
Shirone: "Don’t worry about that. We’ll visit a recovery mage tomorrow. They should be able to heal most of your injuries."
Jis: "Wow, a recovery mage? That must be really expensive."
Amy: "It’s cheaper than the guide fee you were trying to charge us."
Jis scratched his head.
Comparing the two, he realized how much he had been trying to rip them off.
Jis: "I’m sorry about that. It’s all in the past now."
Shirone leaned back on the sofa.
Shirone: "Yeah. Let’s rest for today. Our mental energy will recover after sleeping, but Rian and Tess will be uncomfortable until they get recovery magic."
Tess: "Haha, I’m fine. My wounds have already healed."
The group turned to look at her.
Indeed, the cuts that had been on her cheeks and arms were now completely gone.
Shirone: "How did you do that? The cell regeneration you mentioned earlier?"
Tess: "Similar, but not quite. Cell activation is a very defensive build, so only high-level users with multiple body schemas use it. Instead, I chose mitochondria as my second schema. Even with that, I can recover from scratches just fine."
Shirone: "Mitochondria?"
Tess: "They’re the cell organelles that produce energy. Strengthening mitochondria dramatically enhances basic physical abilities like reflexes, regeneration, and stamina. In my case, I prioritize the sensory system, so I use it as my second schema, but public institutions like kingdom soldiers or guards are required to use mitochondrial builds as their base. Of course, executives are an exception."
Taking the opportunity, Shirone asked.
Shirone: "I’ve been curious about this for a while. What does it mean to stack schemas? There’s only one body. Second build, base build—it’s hard to understand intuitively."
Having focused on magic until now, Shirone realized that knowing about her opponents could also be a weapon.
Tess: "Hmm, that’s understandable. The concept of a virtual body schema is a theory designed to make it easier to explain to swordsmen who haven’t opened their schemas yet. Once you actually open a schema, it’s completely different from the flat feeling of a diagram. Your body’s cells awaken and expand in clarity. For example, what if you asked someone with poor motor skills to do a full turn with a standing jump? They’d lower their center of gravity and twist their body. Then they’d use elasticity to jump as hard as they can."
Shirone: "That makes sense."
Tess: "In that case, the person has only one channel to recognize their body. Just the whole body. That’s a single schema. Of course, since they’re not a schema user, even that is darkness. In other words, they know nothing about their body. The most they’d think before taking action is, ’I need to twist my body as much as possible while jumping.’ Right?"
Shirone: "Ah, I see."
Tess: "On the other hand, what if you gave the same instruction to someone with good motor skills? They’d focus on their lower body strength first. Then they’d jump and stabilize their center of gravity. They’d calculate the rotational force to see if they could turn 350 degrees or exactly 360 degrees. Just this much already involves a strength build and a sensory build. That’s two schemas. Want to go further? The ability to analyze visual information while rotating. How much the axis of rotation is tilted, what shape their fingertips are in, how much distance and time is left until their toes touch the ground. That’s three, four, five schemas..."
Shirone was genuinely impressed.