Dawn broke over Hourai Island.
It was six in the morning. Though the winter sky was still dim, it seemed Marcia and Rodrigo hadn’t been able to sleep soundly, as they were already outside. They stood before the laboratory, staring in grand astonishment.
"Whoa... so this is the laboratory."
It was a three-story building, a sturdy construction of stone.
"Jin-dono has inherited something truly beyond belief," Rodrigo murmured.
Then, upon seeing Jin’s house, they tilted their heads in confusion.
"That’s an unusual design."
"Indeed. I wonder what that thing on the roof is?"
As fellow craftsmen, their curiosity was naturally piqued.
"Ah, good morning, Marcia, Rodrigo-san."
"Oh, morning, Jin!"
Jin, an early riser, called out to them from behind.
"Jin-dono, good morning."
"You’re both up early."
"Yeah, I couldn't exactly stay in bed and sleep like a log after all that," Marcia admitted.
"I can understand that. Have you washed your faces?"
"Yeah, at the sink over there."
A borehole well had been installed in the garden. Clean, delicious water trickled out constantly, feeding into a small pond.
"Well then, why don't you have a morning bath? We’ll have breakfast after that."
"Ah, sounds great!"
By 7:30 AM, Jin, Elsa, Marcia, Rodrigo, and Mine were gathered for breakfast.
The meal consisted of white rice, miso soup with what appeared to be wakame seaweed, grilled dried fish resembling horse mackerel, and pickles.
"Mmm, this is delicious. Seconds, please!"
"It really is tasty. I’ll have another bowl too."
Both of them enjoyed the food enough to ask for second helpings.
Next came the demonstration Jin had promised. They moved to Tatsumi Bay to begin.
"Ah, the sea here is so beautiful," Marcia said, narrowing her eyes at the view.
A boat approached them—the destroyer craft, Stream 1.
"Oh! Th-this is a trimaran!!" Rodrigo’s eyes widened.
"And it’s made of metal, Father!" Marcia shouted as she inspected the hull.
"Come on, hop in."
"You bet!"
The destroyer craft could carry ten people. Jin, Reiko, Elsa, Marcia, Rodrigo, and Arrow all boarded. Marine 1 took the controls.
"Hmm, it certainly feels stable," Rodrigo noted as he found his footing. Marcia remained silent, intently observing every detail of the hull.
"Alright, let’s go!"
At Jin’s signal, Stream 1 surged forward.
"Whoa!" Rodrigo cried out at the sudden acceleration.
"The propulsion system is a 'Magi Water Jet,' an evolution of the 'Aqua Thruster.' Pretty fast, isn't it?"
"Yeah, it’s incredible! Jin, you really are something else!" Marcia cheered.
Stream 1 cleared Tatsumi Bay and headed into the open sea. Marine 1 turned the rudder to the left, steering north. As they continued, the massive silhouette of a ship appeared on the horizon.
"J-Jin, what is that!?"
"That is the Hourai Island Navy’s cruiser, the Azusa."
"...Just how big is it!?"
"The cruiser is a hundred meters long."
"A hundred meters..." Marcia was left speechless.
"A hundred-meter ship made entirely of metal. It makes us getting all worked up over forty meters seem ridiculous," Rodrigo said. He seemed heavily impacted by the sight, yet his expression suggested he had already begun to expect such miracles from Jin.
"Hm? There’s something behind it too... wh-whaaaat!"
"Marcia, what’s wrong?...Good heavens, what is that!?"
One kilometer behind the Azusa, the battleship Hotaka—newly converted from an aircraft carrier—loomed in silent, majestic repose.
"It has to be... over two hundred and fifty meters, doesn’t it? The ship you called a hundred meters looks like a toy beside it!"
This time, even Rodrigo gasped for air. The modified Hotaka had a total length of 250 meters and a displacement in the 30,000-ton class.
"...Jin, just what on earth are you planning to fight?" Marcia muttered, her voice full of disbelief.
Jin gave her a straight answer. "Well, you remember the 'Death Sea Serpents,' right?"
"Yeah, I remember."
"There’s a magical beast that easily preys on dozens of those at once. It’s called a 'Sea Dragon.' This is to counter monsters like that... I suppose."
Marcia was well aware of the Death Sea Serpents that had once terrorized Port Rock. Furthermore, her own ship had recently been smashed by a beast called a Bowall, and she had nearly lost her life in the wreckage.
"Ah... I see. You definitely have to protect yourself."
"The role of the Navy is to protect transport ships, after all."
"Yeah, I understand that well now."
Marcia found herself nodding along with Jin’s explanation.
Having thoroughly enjoyed their voyage around Hourai Island, Marcia and Rodrigo decided it was time to return to Port Rock, as they still had a shop to run.
"Well then, we’ll come again....It’s okay if we come back, right?"
"Of course....Keep this on you. If you’re ever in danger, chant 'Barrier,' and it will deploy a protective field."
Jin handed them each a Protect Ring as a sign of their membership in the Jin Family.
"Just make sure no one sees you when you pass through the Warp Gate."
"Yeah, we know. We’ll be careful."
"Jin-dono, until next time."
The father and daughter then stepped through the gate and returned to Port Rock.
Meanwhile, in the Klein Kingdom.
King Alois III was personally making a difficult request of his daughter, the Third Princess Lieschen.
"...So, Father, you intend to offer Tia as a gift for the Celuroa Kingdom's anniversary ceremony?"
"Yes, that is the reality of it. We have nothing else suitable to give, and we have no budget. Furthermore, we have only just narrowly avoided a food crisis. I cannot place any further burden upon my people."
"..."
Lieschen looked down, remaining silent for a long moment. When she finally raised her head, she wore a smile.
"I understand, Father. Let us cede Tia to that country."
"Oh, truly? I am sorry, Lies. Thank you, thank you."
In truth, Lieschen was weeping with sorrow and regret, but seeing her father look so relieved, she could not let her pain show in her voice or her expression.
"...Well then, Tia, that is the decision. You will be handed over to the Celuroa Kingdom as a diplomatic gift."
"Yes, Your Majesty. I shall fulfill that duty," Tia replied.
Maintaining her usual calm and showing no emotion, the automata nodded.
"Well then, Princess. You have looked after me for a very long time. Please stay healthy and well. I shall always pray for your happiness."
"Tia..."
Tia then left the room, following Alois III.
"...Ugh... sob..."
As soon as the door clicked shut and she was alone, Lieschen collapsed, sobbing uncontrollably.