Raindrops fell from a leaden sky.
The wind whipped up white-foamed surges, and the sea's surface heaved in great swells, tossing about anything that floated.
"According to observations from the Watcher, this rain cloud is expected to pass in about half a day."
After eating breakfast in the dining hall of the Edo, Jin and the others were reviewing the general situation.
"Well, there are days like this," Jin said.
"The sunset yesterday was a bit garish; I suppose it was because there were clouds to the west," Elsa remarked.
"And here I was looking forward to this, but the weather is so bad we can't see a thing. How disappointing," Beena grumbled.
"Now, now. They say it’ll clear up in the afternoon, so just relax for now," Jin consoled her.
"I—I suppose you're right." Beena leaned back into her chair, finally allowing the tension to leave her body.
Just then, Lishia arrived.
"Everyone, it has been a while. Jin-san, thank you for the invitation today." Lishia bowed deeply at the entrance of the dining hall.
"Hey there, Lishia."
After Jin gave a casual greeting, Lishia walked over to him.
"Jin-san, Elsa-san, thank you very much for inviting me on this occasion," she said, bowing deeply once more.
"Well, let's leave the stiff formalities at that. Have a seat."
"Yes, thank you."
"It's raining, even though we finally made it out here," Reinhard noted as he walked in.
"The weather was perfectly clear back where we came from," Berche added, following him.
With their arrival, every member of the party except Milowina was now present. They decided to hold a general meeting in the dining hall to coordinate.
"According to the footage from the Watcher, the clouds bringing this rain should clear out around noon," Jin explained to the newcomers. "So, just bear with it a little longer. I think it’s best if we just find a way to kill time until then. Especially for those of you who are usually busy."
As he spoke, he looked at Reinhard and Berche, Lishia, and then Count Kuzuma and Beena in turn.
"Oh, that's right. If you don't mind, there's something I'd like to consult you all about... everyone," Reinhard spoke up, sounding a bit hesitant.
"Is something troubling you?" Jin asked.
Reinhard shook his head. "No, it's not exactly trouble....Well, maybe I am a little troubled?"
"Dear, speaking like that won't get the point across to Jin-sama and the others. Please explain in more detail," Berche gently admonished him.
Reinhard seemed to make up his mind. "Right. Sorry." He paused for a moment to collect his thoughts. "It’s hot here on the ship, but the season is turning toward autumn. My territory, Kalts Village, gets quite cold once winter arrives."
"Ah, that's true," agreed Saki, his neighbor.
"I want to start planning winter countermeasures for the villagers now," Reinhard continued.
Jin realized that even for someone like Reinhard, it must have been difficult to bring up a discussion about the cold while surrounded by such tropical heat.
"You're right, we are heading toward the cold season," Lishia agreed.
Among the current members, those who lived in regions with harsh winters were Reinhard and Berche, Lishia, Hanna, and Martha. Blue Land had a mild climate where it didn't even snow, and Port Rock Town was even warmer.
However, Beena, who had once lived in poverty while caring for her young siblings, understood the sentiment well. "The winter cold is a painful thing. Winter countermeasures sound like a wonderful idea. Let's talk about it until noon."
Beena looked around at the faces of the gathered members, and no one raised an objection. They all enjoyed these kinds of collaborative discussions.
"Onii-chan, you put muscovite on our windows, didn't you!" Hanna was the first to speak up.
Jin had fitted sheets of highly transparent muscovite found in the mountains into her home's windows to serve as a substitute for glass. This allowed sunlight into the rooms while keeping the warmth from escaping.
"Muscovite, huh..." Reinhard made a thoughtful face. He knew of the material, but it wasn't produced in large quantities within the Shouro Empire.
"On the other hand, glass is quite expensive," Berche noted.
Whether crafted by a magi engineer or produced in a factory, the cost remained a significant barrier.
"If cost is the issue, why not use Ground Spider resin?" Saki suggested a different direction.
She proposed applying thin sheets or plates of Ground Spider resin (GSP) to the windows. It would function similarly to transparent vinyl, though its strength and heat resistance were far superior. Once installed, it would likely last for over a century.
"Hmm..." Reinhard fell into thought. If the material lasted a hundred years, the annual cost would be incredibly low. In fact, the window frames themselves would probably rot before the resin failed.
"It will be a little while yet, but there's also the option of importing glass from Mitsuho," Goose suggested.
Mitsuho possessed manufacturing plants for standard glass. Eventually, through technological exchange, the Shouro Empire and the Allied Kingdoms would be able to manufacture glass cheaply, but that day had not yet arrived.
"Reinhard, it's not quite the same quality as the stock on Hourai Island, but how about the ground spider silk that Tenkunhan brought over?" Goose asked.
"The unit price is still an issue... and the technology to process it into transparent sheets isn't common yet," Reinhard replied.
"Ah, I see... Heh, it's a difficult problem," Saki said.
"But I think focusing on making things that benefit the common people is very meaningful," Jin interjected, then turned to Beena. "Right, Beena?"
"Yes, exactly. I want to continue working that way as well," she replied.
Jin found himself remembering the time he had helped Beena in Blue Land, crafting things like lighters, water heaters, and refrigerators.
"That was fun, wasn't it?"
"It was," Beena said with a soft smile. "And because of those days, I was able to meet Louis-sama."
After a brief moment of nostalgia, Jin made a new proposal. "In that case, how about developing a portable stove?"
"Portable?"
"Yeah—it means something you can move. A mobile unit."
"Something you can move... so, not a fixed fireplace or a built-in stove?"
"Exactly. For example, you could keep it in the dining room during meals and then carry it to the bedroom when you go to sleep."
"That way, even if a family only has one, they can use it effectively!" Beena exclaimed.
"Right. And wealthier families could simply buy several for different rooms."
As he continued the exchange with Beena, Jin's mind drifted back once more to those formative days in Blue Land.