Jin set to work modifying Capricorn 1 for operation in extreme-cold environments.
"If I had my way, I’d give it six or eight legs," he mused.
However, he wouldn't be able to finish constructing the control systems in time. While a horse’s movements provided an excellent reference for a four-legged gait, there were no eight-legged mammals to serve as a template. Simulating such a thing from scratch was out of the question for this trip.
"Enlarging the feet will have to do for now."
This was intended to keep the vehicle from sinking into deep snow and to distribute its weight as much as possible when traversing ice. He expanded the surface area of the feet to double their original size. To further ensure stability, he installed additional gyro-stabilizers.
"Next... it should probably be able to fly, even if only for short distances."
Thinking about the danger of falling into a crevasse, Jin decided that the ability to fly—even at low speeds—was a necessity. He equipped the vehicle with force generators. While its heavy weight meant it wasn't suited for long-distance flight, the feature would be more than enough for escaping a snowdrift.
"And then there’s the matter of comfort."
This covered the "shelter" aspect of the journey's essentials. To improve heating efficiency, he replaced the windows with double-paned glass and added extra insulation to the interior walls. He also modified the main entrance to function like an airlock, ensuring the inner door would not open while the outer door was ajar. It made the cabin slightly narrower, but it was a sacrifice he was willing to make.
As for "food," he added a warming compartment so they could enjoy hot meals at any time. He installed a microwave and stocked plenty of provisions, though they could always have fresh ingredients sent over via a small Warp Gate.
The work continued through the lunch break. Finally, it was time to address "clothing."
"Jin-nii, how’s this?" Elsa asked.
"I think they turned out quite well," Saki added.
Elsa and Saki had been busy crafting cold-weather gear. They used pelts from Rock Ice Rabbits and Snow Tigers. The Snow Tiger pelt was a particularly high-performance material from a magical beast; specifically, it generated heat when supplied with a certain amount of mana.
The design was a collaboration between the two women. The set consisted of trousers with a plush Snow Tiger fur lining, a long coat, gloves, and boots. The tiger stripes provided a striking accent, though the overall look was a bit reminiscent of a mountain bandit.
For headwear, they had made hats with earflaps out of Rock Ice Rabbit fur. They were exceptionally light and warm.
"Oh, these are excellent," Jin praised.
"Mm. A decent day's work," Saki said.
"Father, these are also finished," Reiko said, stepping forward.
She had been tasked with creating UV-blocking goggles. The lenses were crafted from thin plates of dark-attribute magi-crystals. To prevent the lenses from shattering and scattering shards, she had sandwiched them between layers of transparent Ground Spider resin (GSP).
"Oh, these are great."
For Saki, who wore glasses, Jin prepared a dedicated pair of prescription goggles.
"Hehe, I feel a bit spoiled," Saki said. "Getting my own custom pair and all." Despite her words, she looked quite pleased.
"Jin, where should I keep this gun?" Saki asked.
"Oh, right..."
Jin realized they needed holsters for their new weapons. With Elsa’s help, he quickly prepared three holsters, as Reiko intended to keep her gun in her apron pocket.
"Yeah, this feels right."
Jin strapped a gun to his waist to check the balance and found himself satisfied with the result. At the same time, another thought occurred to him.
"Wait... I need to add a safety lock to the triggers."
There was a chance they might accidentally pull the trigger while drawing the guns from their holsters.
"Okay, I'll just do this..."
He added a "Position 0" to the selector dial that would render the gun inoperable. It might slow down their draw speed, but for Jin—who was no military enthusiast—it was a necessary precaution.
"Well, is everything ready now?"
"Yes, the equipment seems sufficient, doesn't it?"
Jin and Reiko nodded to each other in agreement.
『My Lord, since you will be passing through the demon territory again, you will likely encounter the inhabitants, correct?』
It was more of a confirmation than a question from Laojun.
"Yeah, that’s the plan. They’re quite familiar with Capricorn 1, after all."
『In that case, I believe it would be wise to bring some gifts.』
"Good point. We might even end up asking them for a guide."
Jin pondered what would make a suitable gift.
"I know. Let's bring some Devil's Potatoes <Devil Bulbs>."
Jin figured that if they provided Topopo seed potatoes from the Kingdom of Elias and taught the demons how to cultivate them, it would greatly improve their food situation.
"I can just use Trans Info to give the cultivation methods to an Agrii golem."
Jin didn't have extensive agricultural knowledge, but it would be enough to ensure at least a minimum harvest.
『My Lord, we also have a large quantity of Persica fruits.』
The Persica trees on Hourai Island bore fruit in all four seasons, and the stock in the ether stocker was growing by the day.
『There is no need to load them all now. We can send them through the Warp Gate.』
The plan was to pretend they had brought the fruits with them once they arrived, then pull them out of the Warp Gate to distribute them.
"Yeah, that sounds perfect. Let's do that."
With that, the final details were settled.
"We depart tomorrow morning. We'll have the transporter send us to the Pazdext Great Isthmus, and from there, we'll proceed in Capricorn 1. Everyone okay with that?"
『Yes, that sounds appropriate. Just one more thing, My Lord. Please take a transporter with you for your return.』
Laojun had analyzed the transporter device received from No. 700672 and managed to replicate it. One of these units was now installed in Capricorn 1, allowing the team to teleport back to safety in an emergency.
That evening, Jin and the others took a bath to soak away their fatigue and went to bed early.
January 30th.
At 8:00 AM, Jin, Reiko, Elsa, and Saki boarded Capricorn 1, which was parked in the laboratory's front courtyard. As on their previous journey, Land 1 was at the helm.
『Commencing transport.』
Laojun’s voice echoed, and in an instant, the scenery shifted from the subtropical warmth of Hourai Island to a vast, monochrome world of white snow. They had arrived just before the Pazdext Great Isthmus.
"J-Jin, is this the demon territory?" Saki’s voice was high with excitement.
"No, not yet. This area is north of Kaina Village... it’s technically under my management."
"Thinking about it that way, Jin-nii's territory is huge," Elsa remarked.
"Yeah, but it's a barren wasteland..."
Developing it would be a monumental task. The current Allied Kingdoms weren't so desperate for land that they needed to colonize such a place, especially since the winter environment here was so unforgiving.
"Anyway, let's cross the Great Isthmus."
Capricorn 1 began its trek. Thanks to the newly installed gyro-stabilizers, the ride was remarkably stable.
"Hmm, a land locked in snow and ice... how fascinating!"
Saki was giddy at the sight of the unfamiliar landscape. Elsa was also staring intently out the window. Capricorn 1 maintained a steady pace even as it walked over ice-covered rocks.
The sky was overcast. If they continued at about thirty kilometers per hour, they would pass through the narrowest part of the isthmus in roughly two hours. In the past, the change in the color of the rock had clearly marked the boundary, but now everything was buried under a thick blanket of snow.
"I really wanted to see that with my own eyes..." Saki said, looking disappointed after Jin explained the geography.
Capricorn 1 proceeded without issue. Light snow began to dance through the air.
"If they're on the ball, they've probably sensed us by now."
Even though Jin had established friendly relations last year, the demon race wouldn't be negligent in guarding the Pazdext Great Isthmus. There was a high probability that Capricorn 1 had already been spotted. Since they hadn't come for a fight, Jin hoped a scouting party would intercept them so they could explain their presence quickly.
About twenty minutes later, his wish was granted.
"Father, someone is approaching from the front."
Reiko, sitting in the passenger seat, made the report after checking the magi-radar.
"It’s likely a demon scouting party. Let's stay alert."
Capricorn 1 came to a stop and deployed its barrier. Ten minutes passed.
"Three people are coming this way," Reiko reported. Her superior vision allowed her to see them five minutes before Jin could even make out their silhouettes.
"That... one of them is Mr. Belialus."
In that case, the group was likely from the Puppet Clan they had befriended the previous year. The three figures came to a halt about fifty meters away from Capricorn 1. Jin decided to send Reiko out to signal their peaceful intentions.
"Reiko, if you would."
"Yes, Father."
Reiko immediately stepped out through the airlock. Her silhouette was unmistakable. Belialus recognized her at once. He slowly began to approach, raising both hands to show he carried no hostile intent.