March 18, 1613 Central Calendar, 10:25

Leiden Harbor

Currently, Meteos is sitting on a bench facing the sea while enjoying a food originating from Magicaraich Community called hamburger that he just bought from a nearby vendor, while the sea breeze blows gently. He pulled a notebook from his jacket’s pocket and pondered.

‘For my summer project, I want to create one of these lists, but since I’m now just a junior high school student with limited resources, the only one I can afford to create now is…’

On the notebook is a list of things that Meteos learned from his previous life, ranging from something mundane to weapons like the torpedo, guided missiles (guided magic bullets), or even something extremely ambitious like a twin-engine supermaneuverable fourth-generation jet fighter. His eyes darted to a page.

‘…conductive magnetic radar… yes, this is it!’

The conductive magnetic radar is a step up from the mana detector in that not only it can detect magical signatures, it can also detect non-magical objects by converting mana into electrical energy and emitting radio waves to detect them. Basically, it is a magic-powered mechanical radar. In this era, the conductive magnetic radar is only known to the Milishian people as one of Ravernal’s ancient technologies and only mounted on Pal Chimeras. A rudimentary version of it is something that Meteos could afford now.

“Oh? Meteos, what a coincidence to meet you here!” A voice called out.

It broke Meteos from his musings and turned to look in the direction. There, stood a slender boy with brown hair and eyes waving at him from a distance.

“Walman…”

Walman Falkenhausen, Meteos’ close friend since he was in elementary school. In his previous life, both of them were the captains of the ancient superweapon Pal Chimera during the Battle of Baltica against Gra Valkas Empire’s fleet. The hotheaded Walman, with his overconfidence in the Pal Chimera, his desire to save the magic fuel by ending the battle as soon as possible, and wanting to restore the Empire’s damaged pride, attempted to engage the enemy flagship, that blasted Grade Atlastar, only for his ship to be hit by an armor-piercing shell from its main gun and killed in action.

Meteos can’t even avenge his friend’s death because several months later, the Grade Atlastar was defeated by the Japanese.

‘Not this time. I won’t let you die.’

“…os! Meteos!”

“Huh!?”

He was snapped from his thought by Walman who already standing right in front of him and called out to him while snapping his fingers.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, I just had some thoughts, that’s all.”

“Then why are you crying?”

Tilting his head in confusion, Meteos brought a hand to his cheek, only to find out that it was wet.

“I-I’m not crying! T-there’s dust in my eyes!” He sputtered in denial.

“Right…” Walman drawled.

“I am NOT crying! Stop imagining things!” Meteos replied a bit more forcefully, his cheeks reddening. ‘Dammit, this is embarrassing! Why I have to think about that day now…’ He thought as he rubbed his eyes with his sleeve.

“Alright, alright, whatever you say, man.”

Walman shrugged and took a seat beside Meteos. After Meteos finished his hamburger, he turned at his friend.

“Since you’re here, Walman, I want to ask you something.”

“About what?”

“Do you have any plans for summer vacation?”

“No, why?”

Meteos’ expression brightened. “Then if I asked your help in my summer vacation project, it will be okay, right?”

“Hmm…”

“Come on, something good may happen!”

Walman wasn’t sure what Meteos mean by that, but he eventually agreed.

“Eh, fine. I have nothing to do in summer, anyway.”

“Nice! Now I have to go home, see you tomorrow, Walman!”

Meteos stood up from the bench and ran home.

July 25, 1613 Central Calendar, 14:00

Falkenhausen Residence

There’s a hundred and four days of summer vacation, then school comes along just to end it. So the annual problem for the young generation is finding a good way to spend it.

Like maybe… building a rocket, or fighting a mummy, or climbing up the Eiffel Tower.

Currently, Meteos is sitting on a couch in the living room, while across from him is Walman’s father, William Falkenhausen. He is a retired Navy Captain and the owner of a factory in Leiden. His son was somewhere in the town.

“So, you’re asking my permission to let you use the tools in my factory for your summer vacation project?” William asked.

“Yes, didn’t Walman tell you about that?”

“He did, but I never expected you to come to me.”

“Ah, about that, I didn’t specify what project I will do.” Meteos scratched his head as he spoke.

Stroking his chin, William leaned forward.

“…Say, assuming I give you permission to use my factory’s tools, what are you planning to make?”

Meteos nodded and reached for his bag, then took the blueprints he had prepared and arranged them across the table. A look of astonishment appeared on William’s face as he looked closer to examine the blueprint.

“This is… are you planning to make a mana detector?”

Meteos nodded. Of course, the machine he is going to create is capable of doing more than that, but let’s save the surprise for later.

“You draw these by yourself?” William asked again, glancing up to the boy. He had to admit, the drawing itself is very detailed for something made by a junior high school student.

“Of course! I spent hours perfecting the details, you know.” Meteos bragged.

“Heh, alright, you have piqued my interest. You may use the machine tools in my factory, but under my supervision, got it?”

“Thank you very much, Mr. Falkenhausen.”

July 25, 1613 Central Calendar, 15:30

Meteos’ House

“I’m home.”

When Meteos arrived at his home, he was greeted by the sight of his parents standing near the doorway.

“Ah, welcome home.”

“Welcome home.”

“You’re going somewhere, Dad?” Meteos asked his father, Roderick Roguerider.

“Yes. Our air conditioner broke down. I’m going to call a repairman.”

“Is that so… can I see it?”

After being given permission, Meteos picked up a toolbox and began to strip down the AC, while both his father and mother, Meteora, looked curiously.

30 minutes later

“Done,” Meteos called out to his parents after finished attaching the AC’s outer case back on. “Nothing major, the magic circuit that adjusts the temperature is a bit damaged, but I already repaired it. Try to turn it on.”

Roderick turned the AC on and set it to produce cold air. Much to his astonishment, it worked normally.

“Well, I’ll be… great work, son!” Roderick praised.

“Hehe, years of training not wasted! Now that I repaired it, there’s no need to spend any more money.”

“Not that we’re short on money or something…”

In fact, Roguerider family is quite rich, with Roderick working as a civil engineering consultant and Meteora is an elementary school teacher.

“Does this mean that you’re going to increase my allowance, Dad?” Meteos grinned cheekily.

Roderick rolled his eyes in amusement. While Meteora giggled at her son’s attempt.

“I think he’s more than deserved it, don’t you think, Dear?”

“Yeah, yeah, but I never see you spend the money we give you, what are you going to do with those?”

“Ooh, I’m saving it for my special project that I will make this summer. Alright, then…”

Meteos got up and headed to his room.

August 22, 1613 Central Calendar, 11:00

William Falkenhausen’s factory, Leiden

After using his savings to purchase materials needed to make the radar, Meteos and Walman started on their project, although it was mostly Meteos teaching things to Walman, who absorbed the explanations like a sponge. And now, one month later, the conductive magnetic radar was completed. Meteos and Walman presented the machine in front of William and other factory workers for testing.

“Walman, activate the generator.”

“On it.”

A few moments later, the radar display lit up, received information from the transmitter producing electromagnetic waves, antenna, and receiver.

The radar display in this radar uses the A-scope, the simplest and oldest form of the radar display. An A-scope can display only the target distance (represented by the horizontal axis) and the relative size of the echo signals received from the direction in which the antenna is currently pointing (represented by the vertical axis). The bearing or even the elevation angle must be presented as a dial or digital readouts that correspond to the actual physical position of the antenna. Still, the fact that a pair of junior high school students can make it is impressive.

And now, for the next surprise…

“Alright, everyone! The conductive magnetic radar is complete!” Meteos announced.

“Conductive magnetic radar?”

The workers glanced at each other in confusion at the unfamiliar term, while William, a former military, recognized it.

“Wait… conductive magnetic radar, as in the Ancient Sorcerous Empire’s conductive magnetic radar!?”

“Yes. Not only this can detect mana, it can also detect objects that do not emit magic. Well, this is a very crude version of it, but this is really a conductive magnetic radar.”

The workers exclaimed in surprise and began chattering with each other. Meanwhile, William looked thoughtful.

“So, what now?” Walman asked.

“Next, we are going to announce our little project to the world!” Meteos shouted, pumping his fist.

“How?”

“I think I can help with that.”

It was William who spoke. The boys turned at them.

“During my time in the Navy, I know people who will be interested in this thing. If you don’t mind, I can contact them and have them come here.”

“Really!?”

“Of course. You are interesting, so I think your effort deserved to be rewarded.” He explained.

Meteos was grinning. ‘All according to plan.’

In fact, the reason why he specifically approached Walman’s father is because of his connections with the country’s upper echelons, and he was once involved in reverse-engineering Ravernal Empire’s ancient technologies as an engineer. In this country, anyone that can contribute to the development of Ravernal Empire’s relic is greatly valued. Meteos is counting on that in order to make his plan successful.

“Please do, Mr. Falkenhausen, and thank you very much.” Meteos bowed.

“No problem. You’ll make a great engineer kid.”

“If you’re done with that, let’s have a lunch.”

“That’s right. Come, join us, it’s almost lunchtime.”

When the workers started to leave the place one by one, Walman pulled Meteos’ arm and whispered to him.

“So, you’re going to be famous?”

“No, we are going to be famous. You helped me in the project, after all.”

“But you did most of the work.”

“Don’t downplay yourself. You greatly helped me. Without your help, I will take longer to make it.”

“W-well…”

“I told you something good might happen. Now, Walman, let’s eat. I’m hungry.”

Meteos put his hands behind his head and walked to the cafeteria, followed by Walman.

Currently Publicly Available Information

FIRST CIVILIZATION AREA

One of the three civilized areas in the known world, located between the Second Civilization Area and the Third Civilization Area, on the Millicent Continent, also known as the "Central World".

Home of two superpower nations of Emor Kingdom and Holy Milishial Empire, the First Civilization Area is considered to be the home of the most powerful and technologically advanced countries in the world, with magic being the core of the development for their civilizations.

With the abundance of ruins left by the Ancient Sorcerous Empire in its territory, the Holy Milishial Empire's analysis and reverse-engineering of their ancient technologies allowed them to become the world's strongest nation.