The Hourai Island Honeymoon Fleet left Electra Island and set course for Atlas Island.
Strictly speaking, the next destination should have been Taygeta Island, but as it was small and lacked interesting vegetation, they decided to skip it. This was, after all, a honeymoon rather than a formal survey expedition. The Marine and Land squads would likely be sent to investigate Taygeta at a later date.
"Atlas Island is huge, too!"
Goose looked like he was itching to get ashore the moment he saw the island’s silhouette.
"Hmm, I’d love to join the landing, but I have some work today that I simply can't put off," Reinhard said.
"I have left Juliana in someone's care, so we shall take our leave for now as well," Berche added.
After finishing breakfast, Reinhard and Berche returned home via the Warp Gate.
"Jin-dono, I’m also concerned about the shop, so I’ll head back for a bit. I’ll be back tomorrow... Marcia, you’re welcome to stay behind."
"Thanks, Father."
With that, Rodrigo also departed, though Marcia remained with the group.
Atlas Island was the second largest in the Pleiades Archipelago. At 8:00 AM, the Azuma and the Edo arrived, but as there was no place for the ships to dock, they stopped offshore and dropped anchor. This time, the group used the Stream as a barge to reach the shore.
"Oh, it's not a sandy beach here," Stearena noted with interest as they landed.
The coast where the Stream pulled up was a beach of fine gravel.
"Oh? This gravel..."
Mixed in among the pebbles were many fragments that were not opaque, but rather a transparent, vibrant green.
"Jin-kun, could you perform an Analyze on this?"
Toa scooped up a handful of the gravel and offered it to Jin.
"There's no need for that. The Marine squad already checked. It's olivine."
In Japanese, the mineral is called kanran-seki, named after kanran—the word for olive. It was likely named for its green color, which was reminiscent of the fruit. Yellow-green olivine, distinct from the blue-green of emerald, is a gemstone known as peridot. Perido, the green-eyed member of the Five-Colored Golem Maids, had been named specifically after this stone.
"In that case, this island—or rather, most of the Pleiades Archipelago—must be volcanic."
Olivine is a rock-forming mineral that makes up peridotite and is sometimes found in granite or rhyolite. It is a well-known fact among enthusiasts that brownish fayalite can be found on the shores of Miyake-jima back on Earth.
"Hmm, you’re quite well-versed in geology, Jin," Goose remarked, rolling a piece of peridot between his fingers.
"No, I only know the basics."
Jin’s middle school science teacher had been a mineral enthusiast who would often talk about his hobby until he forgot about the lesson entirely. Thanks to those tangents, Jin had picked up a fair amount of mineral-related trivia.
"Does that mean this island is rich in minerals?" Saki’s eyes gleamed. As a material enthusiast, she loved collecting rare minerals.
"I see... Reiko, ask Land where the minerals are most abundant."
During the night, the Land units had conducted a brief preliminary survey.
"Yes, Father... Approximately two kilometers south of this beach, the strata have been exposed by wave erosion. Land reports that would be the best location."
"Got it!"
Saki hurried off toward the south, with Goose, Toa, and Stearena close behind.
"Escort them, please," Jin instructed.
Two Land units—Land 401 and 402—followed after the group.
"I imagine there are interesting ores right here as well."
"Father, I have a report that mineral veins are exposed underwater," Reiko added.
According to the Mermaid unit, the coast where they stood featured mineral outcrops extending out into the sea, likely the result of years of erosion by waves and currents.
"Since it’s underwater, we'll have to leave it to the Mermaid unit for now."
As Jin spoke, Hanna came running up.
"Onii-chan, I found one this color too!"
She held out her palm to show him a transparent stone.
"That looks like quartz. It’s been worn down and polished into a round shape by the waves."
"Can I look for more?"
"Yeah, go ahead."
"Yay!"
Since the beach was rich in gems and semi-precious stones, Hanna decided to spend her time beachcombing. Martha sat down in the shade of a tree to keep an eye on her.
"Well then, what should we do?"
"Want to swim?" Elsa answered Jin's question instantly.
They were currently on the eastern shore of Atlas Island. A short distance to the north was a small cove where the waves were calm. According to the investigation, the area was free of dangerous creatures.
"Alright, let's do that."
Jin realized they lacked changing rooms, but Elsa simply moved behind the cover of some foliage.
"It's fine. I'll change over there," she said, noting that there were no other people around. Reiko went with her as an escort.
Edgar remained with Jin, who quickly changed inside the Stream.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Elsa emerged in her swimsuit, her discarded clothes in her hands. Reiko followed her out. They stowed their clothes inside the Stream, where the pilot, Marine 61, stood guard.
"Well then, shall we swim?"
Jin wasn't as strong a swimmer as Elsa, so he called for the Mermaid unit.
"Yes, Master," Mermaid 17 and 18 replied as they surfaced.
"Let's swim together. Or rather, let us ride on your backs or pull us along."
"As you wish."
Jin and Elsa had the time of their lives, either riding on the backs of the Mermaid golems or being pulled along as they skimmed across the water at breathtaking speeds.
"Ah—Onii-chan and Elsa are being unfair!" Hanna shouted when she saw them.
"Want to join us, Hanna?" Jin called out. Hanna nodded with a beaming smile.
While he was at it, Jin also invited Lishia, Beena, and Marcia, who were watching with envious expressions. However...
"I’ll... pass," Beena said.
Since finding out she was pregnant, Beena had been very careful about overexerting herself.
"I understand. You should relax in the shade with Louis," Jin said with a smile. He used a transporter to bring out folding chairs and a table, setting them up in the shade. "You too, Martha-san."
"Oh, thank you, Jin."
Jin set out drinks for them as well.
Lishia hadn't brought a swimsuit, so Jin had one sent over from Hourai Island. Since he had gifted her one before, the size was a perfect fit. With Mermaids 14, 15, and 16 arriving to help, the five of them began playing in the water.
"Kyah! This is so much faster than I expected!"
"Wow, this is great!"
"This is a totally different kind of thrill than being on a ship!"
Lishia clung to the back of her Mermaid golem in surprise at the speed, Hanna was in high spirits, and Marcia marveled at the sensation of speed that differed from sailing. Jin and Elsa enjoyed the incredible velocity as well, savoring a pace that could never be reached by human strength alone.