November 30, Continental Era 3457. Koup, a port town at the southern tip of the Celuroa Kingdom.
A massive crowd of onlookers had gathered at the harbor, their voices rising in a cacophony of excitement.
"Whoa, incredible!"
"It’s huge!"
"Is that thing really going to move?"
"If that actually works, the world is going to change."
"...I’m so jealous."
Amidst a whirlwind of conflicting emotions, the ship was launched. Her name was the Bridget, a 40-meter-class wooden sailing vessel. Her design was remarkably similar to the caravels used during Earth’s Age of Discovery.
Though she was a sailing ship, her propulsion was powered by magi-engineering. The concept relied on casting wind magic directly into the sails to generate thrust. While small sailing boats were common in Koup, this large vessel—boasting three masts and segmented sails—had captured the public's imagination long before she ever touched the water.
"She’s built well. No leaks, and the rolling has been dampened," a voice remarked on deck.
"It’s all thanks to you," replied the ship's owner, Eckart Techles.
He was speaking with the magi craftman, Altaf.
"Dear, the steering gear shows no abnormalities. We can depart at any time," Gena called out from the stern. She was Altaf's wife.
In truth, Altaf and Gena were not humans, but Quinta units dispatched by Jin. Their true identities were Regulus 50 and Deneb 30, respectively. Even their assistant was a Smith Golem—specifically, Smith 40.
"Alright, raise the anchor! Set sail!" Eckart commanded.
"Aye!"
A large crew of human sailors set to work as the Bridget unfurled her sails.
"Magi engine, begin operation."
"Acknowledged!"
A massive magic tool with the same effect as the wind-attribute magic Wind—the magi engine—roared to life. A powerful artificial gale arose, and the sails billowed to their full extent.
"Ooh!"
Cheers erupted from the onlookers on the shore as the Bridget slowly pulled away from the pier.
"Alright, this is great! Take her on a trial run! I want everyone to get used to her as quickly as possible!" Eckart shouted instructions to the captain. "Eventually, we’re heading to the Shouro Empire to buy up food supplies!"
Eckart was well aware that the northern and eastern regions of the Celuroa Kingdom were on the verge of a famine. He intended to use this massive vessel to sail to the Shouro Empire—where rumors spoke of a bumper crop—to purchase wheat.
Meanwhile, in Shimos, on the shores of Lake Wasu in the Shouro Empire, work had begun on the second new-model ship based on the drawings left by Jin and his companions. They were using the same shipyard that had produced the Bernstein.
Most of the laborers and helpers were the same men who had worked on the first ship. The field supervisor this time was Kubalt, a shipwright from Shimos Town. However, they had decided to abandon the method of transporting the ship to the lake on a carriage; instead, they were constructing a flooding-style dock for the launch.
The shipyard was currently in the midst of a frantic rush. This additional construction had been implemented on the advice of Christoph, who had broken into a cold sweat when the Bernstein initially failed to move during its launch.
As for the ship itself, the same materials used for the first vessel had been gathered. They had also recruited five magi engineers—not exactly world-class, but reasonably competent. The hope was to compensate for the lack of top-tier talent with sheer numbers.
"Alright, keep at it!" Kubalt urged.
However, building it a second time proved to be far from simple, despite their previous experience.
"Does work really stall this much without Jin-dono here...?" Kubalt muttered.
Even though they followed the same procedures, they kept getting hung up on the smallest details—the very spots Jin had surreptitiously refined during the first build.
"Ah, look at this gap!"
"It’s hitting the side; it won't fit!"
"Why don't these dimensions match!?"
Grumbling and complaints echoed from every corner of the shipyard. Kubalt had his hands full trying to keep the peace.
The first ship, the Bernstein, had been a matter of imperial prestige, and success had been the only priority. This second ship, however, was meant to be the first of many sister ships. It had to be manufactured without the oversight of a legendary artisan.
The burden on Kubalt was immense. In a moment of exhaustion, his eyes fell upon a file Jin had left behind: Notes on New Ship Construction. Jin had originally handed it to Christoph, who had then passed it to Kubalt. Until now, he had been so overwhelmed by immediate tasks that he hadn't given it much thought.
"This is...?"
He picked it up and began to scan the pages. Kubalt felt as though he had been struck over the head. Every single issue they were currently struggling with was addressed in the notes, point by point.
"Jin-dono put all of this together for us...!"
He felt a pang of regret for not reading it sooner, but he shook it off.
"I have to do what I can, starting now!"
With Jin's notes in hand, Kubalt began a thorough inspection of the hull.
"Wait, this joint is definitely precarious. Reinforce it and check the strength! That seam over there will leak if we aren't careful; check it again. Hmm, the Jet Thrusters won't be as reliable since they weren't handmade by Jin-dono. We should increase the number of emergency thrusters."
With the notes as his guide, Kubalt took command of the site. He even began adding his own observations to the margins.
Maybe it would have been better to assign an assistant or two to Jin-dono back then, so they could have learned his methods firsthand, he mused.
Acting on that thought, Kubalt selected a promising young shipwright and made the man his personal assistant. Slowly but surely, the shipbuilding technology of the Shouro Empire was being elevated.
Elsewhere, the Bernstein continued its voyage.
December 9. Weather clear, seas calm. Finally departing for Port Rock. Crew in high spirits. Anchored off Bunsen.
December 10. Weather clear, seas calm. Sailing past the Great Divide River. No issues, though speed is slightly lower than expected due to currents. Anchored off Alcor.
December 11. Overcast, seas calm. Crossed the Border River and entered the Celuroa Kingdom. No problems. Anchored off Inaina.
Then, on December 12.
After leaving the waters off Inaina, the Bernstein finally approached Koup at the southern tip of the Celuroa Kingdom.
"Captain! Large ship sighted! It’s roughly our size!"
"What?"
The report came from the lookout stationed on the observation deck atop the cabin roof. A few minutes later, the captain and the rest of the crew confirmed the sighting.
"The name is... Bridget. A Celuroan ship. Is it moving by catching the wind?...No, wait. Something's not right. There’s barely a breeze today, yet that ship’s sails are completely full."
On the Bridget, the discovery of the Bernstein had caused an equal stir.
"Th-That ship! Is it from the Shouro Empire?"
"The name is... Bernstein?"
"It’s as big as we are. But there are no sails or masts. How is it moving?"
Altaf alone remained unfazed, having already been briefed by Laojun.
(So that is the new vessel designed by the Chief. Not a single flaw in its construction. Truly impressive,) he thought.
The two ships passed each other with less than a hundred meters between them. The Bridget headed west, while the Bernstein sailed east.
The respective crews stood at the gunwales, waving and shouting across the water.
"Hey! Wherever you're headed, good luck!"
"Fair winds to you!"
"Don't go sinking on us!"
Though they were of different nationalities, the bond between sailors transcended borders. Even though they couldn't be sure their voices would carry, they cheered for one another with everything they had.
Everyone present felt it: this was the dawn of the age of great ships.