Naturally, New Year’s Day arrived on Hourai Island as well.
After spending a pleasant New Year's Day in Kaina Village, Jin and Elsa traveled to Hourai Island later that same evening.
『My Lord, Happy New Year.』
「Happy New Year.」
「Happy New Year.」
Led by the magi-brain Laojun, the golems in charge of Hourai Island all offered their greetings to the pair.
「Yeah, Happy New Year. I’m counting on you all again this year.」
『Yes, of course.』
「Since it's the New Year, I’d like to state my resolutions for the coming year.」
『I am listening.』
「First, I want to establish Kunlun Island as my formal territory.」
「What do you mean, Jin-nii?」
Elsa’s question was only natural. "Formal" or not, the only people who even knew Kunlun Island existed were Jin and the Jin Family, and it was hard to imagine any known power being capable of seizing it from them.
「Ah, by 'formally,' I mean I want the various nations to recognize it as my land.」
『I understand. This is to help conceal Hourai Island, your true base of operations, correct?』
「Exactly.」
Kunlun Island had originally been developed as a decoy for Hourai Island. The official story was that Jin and his Master had lived there.
『Most of the current nations would likely recognize the claim, but the Celuroa Kingdom and the Kingdom of Franz might present problems.』
「That’s likely. But before we discuss that, let me tell you my other goal.」
『Yes, My Lord.』
「I want to restore the Former Leonard Kingdom and set Ernest and Lies as its king and queen.」
『I see. So you intend to install rulers who share blood ties with the adjacent Klein Kingdom and Kingdom of Egerea.』
Laojun seemed to grasp Jin’s vision perfectly.
「That makes sense. If Jin-nii helps with the founding of the Leonard Kingdom, then Kunlun Island—which sits to its east—probably won't become a point of territorial dispute,」 Elsa added, reaching the correct conclusion.
「Right. Plus, we can maintain a highway that connects Klein and Egerea without having to pass through the Celuroa Kingdom.」
『That is an excellent goal. It provides us with clear guidelines for our future actions.』
As the obstacles to be cleared became evident, it would make it easier for Laojun to coordinate their movements.
「Right. First, I heard that starting early this year, there will be a mission from the Klein Kingdom to investigate the Former Leonard Kingdom.」
『Yes. I have obtained information that they will depart on January 3rd. Gloria-san is one of the members, and Roland-san will be participating as a consultant. From the Shouro Empire, it appears Fritz-san will be cooperating by leading a squad of Golias units.』
「Wait, my brother?」
The official from the Shouro Empire responsible for leading the Golias units to deliver desiccant to the Klein Kingdom was indeed Elsa’s biological brother, Fritz.
Furthermore, because Roland had visited the Former Leonard Kingdom several times as a merchant, he had apparently been entrusted with guiding the mission and negotiating with the locals. However, the fact that they were conscripting civilians suggested a significant lack of available personnel.
「Also, there was a resistance organization in the Kingdom of Franz, wasn’t there?」
『Yes. I have already had Regulus 41 infiltrate them.』
「Oh, that’s good. For example, we could potentially accept those dissidents as citizens when we restore the Leonard Kingdom.」
『I see. In that case, I believe we can also utilize "Nostalgia."』
「That’s a good point.」
Jin continued further.
「The rest are just minor details, so they might not strictly be 'resolutions.'」
「But I still want to hear them,」 Elsa insisted.
Jin obliged her request.
「Yeah—things like resource management and consideration for the environment.」
「...Are you worried about that?」
Elsa was referring to the usage of Hourai Island’s resources, which she had pointed out when they were constructing the Shachi.
「A little bit, yeah. But well, I think most of it was necessary, so I’d like to... believe it wasn't a waste.」
His voice trailed off slightly toward the end.
「And for those reasons, I want to research free ether more deeply.」
「...Why?」
「In the world I came from, energy depletion was a major issue. Considering that free ether decreased drastically during the Ether Stampede, it doesn't seem to be an inexhaustible resource.」
Right now, Jin and his companions were using it freely as a non-polluting energy source, but Jin had begun to worry that if it were ever to run out, the very foundation of this world would be shaken.
『I understand your concern perfectly. So far, we know that the distribution of ether in the sea is no different from that in the atmosphere, and that levels remain almost constant from the ground level up to the stratosphere.』
「Yeah, that’s certainly a good sign. It probably exists in outer space to some extent too. But then, why is it abundant in the north and scarce in the south? We don't even know the reason for something as fundamental as that.」
「Then, why don't we try asking No. 700672?」
Servant No. 700672. He was an artificial lifeform created by the magi known as the Origin—a homunculus. He was quite possibly the oldest living being in the Ars world.
「Hmm. To be honest, I feel a bit pathetic just asking because I don't know the answer myself, and I think it would be bad to develop a dependency on him.」
「Father, isn't this a special case? This concerns the very core principles of this world,」 Reiko advised.
Laojun chimed in as well.
『My Lord, I believe she is correct. The nature of this question is not something that should be left unaddressed.』
「Hmm, I see.」
Jin looked at Elsa’s face, and she gave him a small nod. That settled his mind.
「Alright, I understand. I'll go see him now.」
They knew exactly where No. 700672 resided. He was within the "White Room" of the Heavenly Ship, the vessel that would never fly again. Since Jin had maintained the ship and installed a Warp Gate there, they could arrive in an instant.
「Jin-nii, take me with you. It's thanks to No. 700672 that my Mana Overload Syndrome was cured.」
「Alright, let’s go.」
Jin picked up some Persica juice as a souvenir and teleported, accompanied by Reiko, Elsa, and Edgar.
「...So this is... the Heavenly Ship...」
The Warp Gate had been installed just outside the entrance to the White Room.
Upon arrival, they were met by Smith 32 and 33, who were stationed there to maintain the Warp Gate and investigate the ship’s technology. The Smith units rotated through this post in shifts.
「Welcome, Master.」
「Good work. Is there anything unusual to report?」
「No, there is nothing, Master.」
「I see.」
After that brief exchange, Jin placed his hand on the door of the White Room. Recognizing him, the door slowly slid open.
「...Is that you, Jin-sama?」
Standing on the other side was the white girl, Neige.
「Yeah, Neige, it’s been a while. I came to see your father.」
「Yes, please come in. Reiko-san, it’s been a while for you too....And who are these people?」
Seeing Elsa and Edgar, Neige stiffened slightly.
「This is Elsa. And that is Edgar.」
「Elsa-san and Edgar?」
「That’s right.」
Elsa nodded to confirm.
「It was thanks to your father that my illness was cured. I wanted to meet him in person to say thank you.」
Hearing this, Neige’s expression brightened instantly. She seemed to have suddenly become quite cheerful.
「Oh! I understand! Father, Father!」
Neige called out toward the back of the room. It appeared that No. 700672 had recovered enough to no longer be bedridden.
「What is it, Neige?...Oh, if it isn't Jin-dono.」
「It's been a long time.」
No. 700672 walked slowly out from the back of the room. Upon recognizing Jin, a look of genuine pleasure crossed his face.
「Welcome, welcome. You have come at a good time. I have something I wish to show you.」