"Around October 15, fragments of stars will fall from the sky. I do not believe there is any danger, so please ensure that instructions are thoroughly disseminated to prevent panic."
Messages like this were delivered from Jin to every nation. Naturally, they included supplementary explanations.
"I will handle any fragments that pose a danger myself. However, as there is a possibility that some may leak through, people should be advised not to go outside out of curiosity."
"If a star fragment reaches the surface, it possesses enough power to destroy a single house."
"People may be injured while trying to flee in a panic, or thieves may attempt to loot empty houses. Please maintain public order."
Upon receiving this report from Jin, the Empress of the Shouro Empire, Gerhardt Hilde von Rubies Shouro, took immediate action.
"‘Stars falling’... she means meteors. Ensure every lord, bailiff, and village chief is notified."
"Yes, I will make the arrangements at once," replied the Chancellor.
No one doubted Jin's words. Many of the top officials and palace nobles had attended lectures given by the Fuhrer, the teaching automata Jin had donated. It was also easy to imagine that uninformed citizens would panic if such a celestial event occurred without warning.
By the 14th, the notifications had reached every corner of the Empire via express messenger and pigeon post.
"‘Fragments of stars will fall,’ you say?"
In the Klein Kingdom, an emergency meeting was convened immediately upon receiving the news.
"This communication comes from Jin Nidou-dono, the Magi Craft Meister and Lord of Kunlun. We cannot ignore it."
Most of the nobles were visibly shaken by the news, which felt like a bolt from the blue.
"If stars fall, will it not be the end of the world?" one asked.
"Wait," King Alois III said, calming the room. "The Lord of Kunlun said ‘fragments of stars,’ not the stars themselves. Imagine the sight of stars raining down from the night sky. The difference in shock between being warned and being caught unaware would be like heaven and earth. The Lord of Kunlun is telling us not to endanger ourselves with needless panic."
"Indeed. People might trip and injure themselves or fall from cliffs while fleeing in the dark," another agreed.
"Precisely. We must notify every region in advance to prevent such tragedies."
"But Your Majesty, how reliable is this information?" asked a young noble who had only recently joined the high council.
"You do not know the Lord of Kunlun, I take it? If so, your skepticism is understandable."
Most of those present knew of the Lord of Kunlun's past achievements and did not doubt his word. At the very least, they were prepared to take action based on the possibility. This was the result of the immense trust Jin had built since arriving in this world.
"‘A shower of star fragments,’ is it?"
An emergency council was underway at the Royal Palace of the Kingdom of Egerea. Count Kuzuma was among those in attendance.
"This information is from Jin-dono, the Magi Craft Meister and Lord of Kunlun. Its credibility is high."
"Indeed," agreed the Minister of Internal Affairs. "While the Lord of Kunlun is intervening to ensure no damage reaches the surface, it is our duty to maintain the people's peace of mind. We must notify every region immediately."
"That aside, what kind of damage could actually occur?"
Count Kuzuma provided the answer. "In my personal estimation, it would be like a Stone Bullet spell hundreds of times more powerful, combined with the effects of a Flame Buster."
"I see. You are quite close with the Lord of Kunlun, are you not, Count?"
"Yes. My friend Baron Reinhard of the Shouro Empire is Jin-dono’s best friend, and my wife has met Jin-dono as well."
As a member of the Jin Family, he kept his explanation innocuous.
"I see. That makes it easier to visualize... but that sounds like catastrophic damage."
"Yes, which is why the Lord of Kunlun said he would handle the debris. Even so, since there is a chance of some fragments leaking through, he wants everyone to stay indoors."
"Understood. We must take care as well."
In the Kingdom of Elias, a strategy meeting was called the moment the message arrived.
"Instruct every lord to maintain strict safety protocols."
"We must proceed with the mindset that no injuries will be tolerated."
In place of the sickly King Blitzen Skala Elias XII, Crown Prince Alphons presided over the meeting, leading the discussion with a firm hand. Consequently, the measures Jin requested were adopted without confusion.
The same occurred in the Celuroa Kingdom.
"This is news from the Lord of Kunlun! We begin the meeting at once!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"Send pigeons to every corner of the realm. Do everything possible to prevent the citizens from being frightened."
The Kingdom of Franz followed suit. "We cannot afford to disregard information from the Magi Craft Meister. Convene the council immediately."
"News from the Magi Craft Meister?"
In the foreign lands of Mitsuho and Fusou Island, the response was just as swift—if not faster.
"Around the 15th, many meteors will be visible. This is not a divine omen or a disaster. Do not panic and injure yourselves."
This proclamation was issued to every citizen.
In the northern demon territory, the reaction was similar.
"A notification from the Magi Craft Meister."
"A message from Jin-dono."
Because of their smaller population, their response was even faster and more thorough. The reputation and trust Jin had established across the world were bearing fruit. Whether in the great human kingdoms, the foreign tribes, or the demon territory, any small doubts were outweighed by the lack of opposition. Preparation proceeded smoothly everywhere.
The status of these measures across the nations was gathered by Quinta and reported to Jin via Laojun.
"...Phew. It looks like things will be okay."
Jin recalled stories from Earth, where news of a giant comet grazing the planet had once sparked rumors of the end of the world, leading to widespread chaos. He remembered a science teacher in high school mentioning it during a lecture on geology and astronomy.
"‘Some people were so pessimistic they committed suicide,’ the teacher had said. ‘They heard rumors that the Earth’s air would vanish for five minutes, or that the hydrogen in the comet’s tail would combine with the oxygen in the atmosphere and make it impossible to breathe.’"
Jin had simply wanted to prevent such pointless panic here.
"Now the rest is up to me."
Jin stepped out of his workshop and looked up. Amidst the sea of stars, something was faintly glowing.
"It’s starting to look like a comet."
Indeed, among the debris of the Fifth Planet, Pengolta, were micro-class fragments and even smaller particles and molecules. As they caught the sunlight, they began to glow like a comet’s tail.
It was a phenomenon Jin had never seen before.
"Maybe it’s an effect of the free ether," he mused, staring at the night sky.
"A mysterious light has appeared in the heavens."
The officials known as Astronomical Officers, who had once used the stars for divination but now primarily focused on the calendar, were the first to notice. Every night they watched the sky, and they quickly spotted the phantom glow that had not been there before.
"This must be the omen of the falling star fragments the Lord of Kunlun spoke of..."
Across the world, the leaders of every nation braced themselves.