It was the third day since full-scale operations had begun.
"Well then, what should we do now that the Quinta are finished?"
Personally, Jin wanted to start working on the powered suits as soon as possible. However, Anne offered a different suggestion.
"Masther, this Hourai Island is essentially a maritime nation. If you intend to establish forward bases, you should build aircraft carriers."
An aircraft carrier—the term was likely drawn from Jin’s own knowledge.
"Launching air forces directly from Hourai Island takes far too long. We need carriers equipped with large Warp Gates capable of deploying airplanes to the front lines."
"I see your point."
Everything Anne said was perfectly logical.
"All right, let's build them."
Jin sat down with Laozi to begin the design process.
The ships would be in the 200-meter class. Because they would be equipped with Warp Gates, there was no need to house an excessive number of carrier-based aircraft on board.
For propulsion, they would use a Magi-Water Jet system. Rather than one massive unit, they would install six smaller ones. This allowed the ship to change course simply by adjusting the output of the individual engines.
The deck would feature a two-tier structure: the lower deck for general aircraft requiring a runway, and the upper deck for VTOLs.
They would be equipped with three Warp Gates large enough to accommodate any current aircraft model.
As for armament, they would utilize laser cannons: six main guns and six secondary guns. Additionally, there would be 100 gun-type units for point-defense, each equipped with its own control core—effectively a form of computer control.
As a secondary measure, they would install ten Water Jet cannons. Jin wanted solid projectile weapons as well, but he hadn't developed any yet.
The crew would consist of Marine and the other Navy golems. Since 100 units seemed insufficient for the new fleet, Jin planned to produce another 100. He intended to increase the numbers of the Air Force and the Army golems accordingly.
The Air Force would naturally be assigned to the VTOLs, while the Army golems would be stationed at the forward bases or serve as engineering corps.
The structural frame would be adamantite with five layers of steel plating and a mithril coating on the surface. The displacement would be approximately 20,000 tons.
The crew capacity was set at thirty. While the cruising range was theoretically infinite in regions with free ether, the ships could travel about 10,000 kilometers using only their internal mana reserves.
Jin also planned to build and dock improved high-speed boats on board.
With these specifications finalized, they decided to construct three ships, naming them the Hotaka, the Myoukou, and the Asama.
Naturally, these vessels could not be built in a day or two. Under Laozi's supervision, the manufacturing would be a deliberate process. Jin would handle the inspections at critical junctures and focus on developing new equipment.
The next project Jin tackled was based on a specific request.
"First, please create a cannon capable of firing solid projectiles," Anne told him. She was proving to be quite the manager.
"Hmm. I want to make something with enough kinetic energy to destroy a Gigas."
Jin had abandoned even the slightest pretense of self-restraint. At this point, his lack of hesitation was almost refreshing.
"The recoil is probably going to be terrifying, though..."
If it was mounted on an aircraft carrier, that wouldn't be an issue.
Thus, Jin began creating what was, in principle, a slingshot. It fired projectiles using the power of magical muscle fashioned from Sea Dragon skin. It was essentially a highly advanced version of a catapult.
One potential flaw was that the projectile might fall out if the weapon was pointed downward, but Jin solved this by giving the tip of the magical muscle a retention function. It would hold the round in place and release it only at the moment of firing.
The barrel consisted of top and bottom rails, with the magical muscle moving between them to launch the projectile.
"All right, the prototype is finished."
It was just before noon when the prototype, roughly one meter in length, was completed.
Since Elsa had invited him for lunch, Jin decided to perform a single test fire before heading to Kunlun Island.
"Reiko, give this a try."
Not knowing how severe the recoil would be, he asked Reiko to handle it.
"Yes, Father."
Unlike a conventional slingshot, the magical muscle stretched when mana was channeled into it, making the weapon easy to set. The projectile was a steel ball two centimeters in diameter.
"This is just a test, so give it everything it’s got."
"Understood."
Reiko took a horizontal stance, aiming toward the sea.
"Firing!"
She pulled the trigger. The magical muscle made from Sea Dragon skin released a staggering amount of force.
With a thunderous boom, the projectile flew in a straight line rather than a parabola. It vanished from Jin’s sight the very instant it was fired, leaving a shockwave that dispersed the clouds in its wake. The ionized air seemed to shimmer with light.
"Ah... that sound... it definitely broke the sound barrier. I’d like to believe it isn't enough to reach escape velocity....Right?"
Jin was stunned by the weapon's power. Reiko, meanwhile, had been pushed back slightly by the recoil.
"Reiko, how was it?"
"Yes, Father. Since it was my first time, I was pushed back slightly, but I will be fine from the next shot onward."
Hearing that, Jin decided that once he added a few more refinements, he would make the prototype one of Reiko’s dedicated weapons.
＊ ＊ ＊
"Yesterday, I saw a boat that looked like Marcia-san's."
After lunch on Kunlun Island, Elsa brought up the subject.
"Several of those catamarans were floating in the harbor."
"Heh, sounds like Marcia is working hard, too."
"Mhm. I couldn't meet her, though."
Well, if they had met, it would have been a headache to explain why Elsa was there, Jin thought with a wry smile.
"Jin-nii, what are you doing now?"
Since he had nothing to hide, Jin answered Elsa's question casually.
"Right now, I'm strengthening Hourai Island’s military. I hate the idea of war, but we can't ignore defense. When I think about what those people did to you, Elsa, it makes my blood boil."
Hearing this, Mine, who had been listening in silence, interjected.
"E-Elsa, did something... happen to you?"
She was clearly panicked. Elsa answered calmly.
"No. Nothing actually happened. But I was threatened in many ways."
She then told her about Purcell. It seemed she had kept the details to herself until now. Upon hearing the story, Mine was incensed.
"What?! Such a thing! Jin-sama, people like that have no right to live in this world!"
The radical words spilled out of her. Ah, her core nature hasn't changed at all, Jin thought with a wry smile.
"I know. Once I've prepared sufficiently, I'll wipe them out."
With that, he stood up.
"Well then, I'm heading back to Hourai Island to get back to work. Thanks for lunch. And thanks for the clothes, too."
Jin accepted the clothes they had bought for him the previous day and had Reiko carry them.
"Mhm. Jin-nii, see you... tomorrow at lunch."
"Yeah. See ya."
Jin then returned to Hourai Island.
＊ ＊ ＊
After having Reiko perform several more test fires, the upper and lower rails acting as the barrel became hot and began to deform, so Jin ended the testing.
"Ah, as I thought, even steel can't handle rapid fire."
Consequently, he decided to remake the rails using adamantite. The melting point of adamantite was approximately 4,500 degrees Celsius; it would not melt even if it became incandescent. It was a metal that could not be worked without Craft Magic.
The specific gravity of iron is about 7.9, while adamantite is about 19.3. It was more than twice as heavy, but that wouldn't be a problem for Reiko.
It had the added bonus of being sturdy enough to be used as a blunt weapon. Its total length was 1.5 meters—slightly taller than Reiko herself.
The ammunition used a cartridge system with a ten-round capacity. It fired projectiles three centimeters in diameter, one size larger than the prototype.
The standard round was a steel ball. For those prioritizing penetration, there were adamantite-coated rounds; for raw power, there were lead balls.
In the case of lead, the round would deform upon impact and flatten, transferring nearly 100 percent of its kinetic energy to the target.
"The barrel doesn't have rifling, but with this much power, it shouldn't matter."
In any case, since the rounds flew at a maximum speed of around Mach 20, they could be aimed in a straight line as long as the target was within visual range.
"Hmm, as for the name... it's too much trouble, I'll just call it a Railgun."
In the sense that it fired projectiles from between rails, it wasn't technically incorrect.
"Father, thank you for this wonderful weapon. From now on, I will use this to eliminate your enemies."
To Reiko's declaration, Jin didn't forget to add a stern warning.
"No. Think very carefully about the target before you use it."
"My Lord, there is something I wish to report."
Laozi spoke up, sensing that Jin's work had reached a stopping point.
"Hmm, what is it?"
"Yes. While copying Mine-san's knowledge for the Quinta, I discovered traces of what appeared to be mental manipulation. I thought I should bring it to your attention."
"Mental manipulation? Hypno?"
"No, it was not something so powerful. It was likely 'Seduce'."
"Seduce?"
It was a type of magic Jin was hearing of for the first time.
"Yes. This was also found in Anne’s knowledge. It is a magic that directs the target's consciousness toward a specific action. When used to amplify the subject's own desires, it creates very little sense of unnaturalness—both to the subject and those around them."
"Hmm..."
Mine's obsession with Elsa had seemed abnormal. If that had been the result of Seduce magic, the pieces of the puzzle fit together perfectly. The person who had cast it, however, remained unknown.
"So, it's been dispelled now?"
"Yes. I believe it was broken by either a shock to the head or a shock to the body."
"All right. Look into methods for dispelling it."
"Understood."
There was a possibility that they would encounter more people like that in the future. Jin couldn't help but wonder if Elsa's brother, Fritz, might also be under its influence.
Jin tightened his resolve, realizing that their opposition might be even more cunning than he had anticipated.
＊ ＊ ＊
During the scheduled contact that night, Reinhard reported that he would not be stopping in the royal capital, Esaia, and was currently preparing to cross the Azul River at a city called Dali.
It seemed Jin would have to wait another three or four days for their arrival.