Jin headed to his workshop to test a sudden flash of inspiration.
"Reiko, I need your help."
"Yes!"
Delighted to be called upon, Reiko immediately set to work.
"Get some GSS ready. And some 64 light silver."
"Yes, right away."
Ground spider silk, or GSS, was a rare material known for its incredible strength and heat resistance. On Hourai Island, however, it was exceptionally abundant because they cultivated ground spiders in the underground facilities.
"It's just a model, so one-tenth scale should be enough."
Jin worked with practiced efficiency. Before long, the model began to take shape.
『My Lord, what is this?』 Laojun asked.
What Jin had created was a gondola with sails stretched out both horizontally and directly above it.
"Yeah. According to my theory, even something like this should be able to fly."
『With this design?』
"That's right. Let's have a Mini-Smith hop on and test it out."
"Father, Mini-Smith 2 is available right now," Reiko noted.
The Mini-Smiths were mini-mini-golems standing only ten centimeters tall. They were invaluable for fine-detail finishing and conducting test runs of scale models.
They moved the experiment to the plaza in front of the laboratory.
"Alright, that covers the explanation. I’m counting on you."
"Yes, Master!"
Since Mini-Smith 2 possessed a miniature vocal apparatus, its voice came out as a high-pitched, squeaky chirp.
"Okay. 'Wind' generator, wake up."
"Understood."
A breeze began to blow upward from a small magi-tool mounted on the gondola. Catching the wind, the sails billowed outward.
"It... it's floating!"
In essence, it operated like a kite catching the air to gain lift.
Long ago, the great merchant of the Celuroa Kingdom, Eckart Techles, had realized that wind magic produced no recoil. He used that magic to blow wind directly into a ship's sails to provide propulsion. This kite airship utilized that same fundamental logic. By adjusting the angle of the wind, the direction of travel could be controlled.
"Father, it's a success."
『My Lord, impressive as always. This is likely the principle behind the flying object spotted last night.』
Both Reiko and Laojun offered their praise.
"Still, this method is pretty wasteful," Jin mused. Most of the wind generated by the magic seemed to dissipate into the air. From an engineering standpoint, it was terribly inefficient. "But I suppose it's a good fit for the current level of technology in this world..."
A kite airship like this could be built using only existing magical techniques. It was faster than a hot air balloon and could carry a larger payload.
"It wouldn't be surprising if someone else had invented it independently."
There was a distinct possibility that what they had seen the previous night was exactly that.
『However, it remains a point of concern,』 Laojun noted.
"True..."
The man named Jix and his mysterious golem. The fact that they had vanished at the same time a flying object appeared was too coincidental to ignore. What it actually meant, however, remained a mystery.
『Since we have identified the appearance of this Jix and his golem, I shall have the Quinta continue their search,』 Laojun proposed.
"Yeah, do that. For some reason, that golem is sticking in my mind."
『In that case, I have footage captured in secret.』
"Oh, right. We did reinforce the Quinta presence in Blue Land."
Because three Quinta units had been active in Blue Land, they had managed to record Jix and the mysterious golem's movements.
『I did not anticipate they would disappear the very same day they were hired by Earl Guarana, immediately after being rejected by Count Kuzuma.』
Returning to the command room, Jin stared at the magi-screen. It displayed the mock battle between the mysterious golem and Earl Guarana’s private soldiers.
"Hmm... something about its movement feels wrong."
『I suspected you would notice, My Lord.』
"You felt it too, Laojun?"
"It seems odd to me as well," Reiko added, standing by Jin's side.
"If I had to guess, that golem doesn't have an endoskeleton."
It performed twisting motions that didn't appear to rely on muscle placement. This was especially apparent in the way its limbs rotated.
"If it's an exoskeleton, the interior should be made of magi-resin, but that doesn't fit either."
『Indeed. The mass of that golem clearly suggests it is metal all the way through.』
"It's true," Reiko agreed. "Look at how the ground is gouged, how deep its feet sink, and the recoil when it parries a sword. It is clearly very heavy."
"Exactly."
The sight reminded Jin of Gorg, the enemy golem they had fought in the demon territory. Gorg was a mass of adamantite that moved through Fluid Form Drive—an advanced application of Forming.
"But this golem is far more agile than Gorg."
Taking on thirty soldiers and defeating them all without taking a single hit required speed far beyond the ordinary.
『Does that mean it utilizes some new type of system?』
"That's what I find most likely."
A question they had discussed recently—whether pushing Form Drive to its limits could yield results superior to biological materials—felt relevant here.
"This might be the proof of that theory..."
"How are the preparations for the golem we're entering in the Gonpetition?"
"They are already complete, and the unit is currently in transit."
The scene was the headquarters of Nostalgia. They were preparing to participate in the Gonpetition, the golem competition in the Celuroa Kingdom.
However, they were not participating as Nostalgia. Donald was entering as an individual. After all, the group’s number two, Donald Callow, was a former Alpha—once the top-ranked engineer in all of Celuroa.
Though he had officially retired following the dissolution of Unifilar, Donald remained a celebrity in his field. No one in the Celuroa Kingdom was aware that he had served as the second seat of Unifilar, allowing him to participate openly.
"If this golem is recognized, I believe I can finally contribute to the world once more."
"I agree," Jules Rolant, the leader of Nostalgia, replied with a deep nod.
"I won't be losing to a youngster like Fortz just yet."
To fill the void left by the departure of top-tier craftsmen like Donald and Stearena, an emergency selection meeting had been held under King Cesar's reign. As a result, the young Fortz Darant had been promoted to Alpha. During King Richard's era, Fortz Darant had been ranked Theta—the 8th seat.
"Please do your best. I’ll be cheering for you from here," a voice like clear, ringing bells said.
It was Elena—once known as the Golden Destruction Princess, now simply the Golden Princess.
"But please, be careful. Especially given that mysterious golem we heard about recently."
"She's right, Donald. Stay on your guard," Jules added.
"I understand."