A Confounding Conundrum

Oh yes, and one more thing. You might find her difficult to get along with at first.

However, if you address her as "Madam," she'll become much easier to talk to.

A book that was popular 100 years ago? It doesn't sound like something that'd be popular now, to be frank.

Anyway, is there anything else here that has caught your eye? As long as the price is reasonable, I can give you this book as a bonus!

Archon be praised, I can finally send a report to my superiors! Thank you so much!

I have no idea how we might have persuaded her otherwise...

Is Madam Faruzan really going to mentor me? What an honor!

Ah, I'm sure she'll say "helping with illustrations isn't mentoring"... So, ah, don't tell her I said that.

No wonder she's so well-respected at the Akademiya. When I first saw her, I thought she might be unreliable because she's so young...

Ah! Don't let her know I said that. Anis warned me about that before...

We need to wait two whole days before we get the new toys...

It might just be all reference stuff. It'll be a loooong time before we can play with the real toys.

Guess all we can do is play Genius Invokation TCG in the meantime...

Have you met with Madam Faruzan yet?

Yes. She's still kinda busy...

She needs about two more days...

It's fine. Collei has already filled me in, more or less.

I've also managed to settle some of the problems on my side, so I've got time to wait for Madam Faruzan to arrive.

Can you help me find out how she's faring in two days' time?

The ruins? Don't know anything. We were only hired to deliver water and supplies to them.

Forget excavation — they won't even let us get close to the camp where they're staying.

This area used to be ravaged by frequent sandstorms, but it's been calm lately for some reason...

They say that this was done by a single traveler? But seriously, is such a thing even humanly possible?

That machine looks amazing! Could it be the legendary Ruin Wanderer?

The location seems to fit too... Might that legend actually be true?

Kolu...

Who knew that I'd encounter a mechanical life form in this manner after a hundred years?

I didn't know mechanical life forms could get sick, too... You have to get better soon, Karkata!

A "Fully Automated Irrigation System"... That's quite the task.

Master, can I help with anything at all? I can go buy things, prepare pen and paper...

Oh, you know, I seem to remember that you have a lot of homework today.

Huh? O—Oh, yeah, I do...

Well, hurry up and finish it so you can sleep early, or Faruzan will worry. That's the best thing you can do now to help.

Oh... Okay...

Kolu...

Halt! Mr. Raed's permission is required to proceed any further!

There's a tent that the villagers occasionally use to rest. Like I said, it's a bit simple, yes, but I hope you won't mind.

Ah, sorry for disturbing your rest. I'll tell my subordinates to be quieter in the future.

(The wreckage of the huge machine remains motionless...)

(Faruzan's head hangs low in silence... The desert breathes gales of wind, and the only sound that can be heard is the scattering rise of spreading grains.)

Kalu! Kalu!

It looks fine, but even so, it needs to properly rest up.

Faruzan went out after repairing Karkata. She seems to be looking for you for some reason.

...Well, I will not probe any further. However, if you need any help, do feel free to ask.

Ugh... So we still can't go back to Aaru Village?

Just what are they digging for?

That huge machine looks amazing!

"...Tamimi's remodeling is going smoothly. As it is now, it can learn how to deal with various dangerous situations in the ruins on its own. I wish you could see it with your own eyes."

"As I worked, I kept thinking that you'd do a better job at this than I could."

"After all, you're the most exceptional student I've ever met."

"Dear Madam Faruzan..."

"The notes and manuscripts we found on Tamimi have been transcribed and organized, and every one of them has been marked with your name."

"I hope that even after a hundred years, future generations of students will still remember your name, Madam Faruzan."

"... I told you not to... Now, look... So many people... Worried... Even... Tamimi..."

(The messy scribbling has been repeatedly canceled and edited, leaving barely legible phrases and a single neat message at the back.)

"Hurry up and come home for a meal. Your mom always makes an extra portion of food, you know?"

Kolu...