“Well, that’s enough about magi-mercury for now,” Jin said, changing the subject.
“Things are unusually quiet right now—no immediate emergencies. So, I’m thinking of clearing up various matters I’ve been putting off.”
“That sounds fine, but like what?”
Saki had been busy with her own projects, so she didn't seem to quite grasp what Jin was getting at.
“Ah, sorry. It’s more my own issues, I suppose,” Jin said, scratching his head.
“For instance, there's John Dini, who’s still stationed in Mitsuho.”
“Ah.”
“Or the analysis of the fragments we processed from the long-period planet.”
“True.”
“And though the Celuroa Kingdom hasn't said anything yet, I need to look into the future of the monorail.”
Jin listed them off as they occurred to him.
“I don't want to leave things half-finished if I’m going to move forward.”
“Mmh, I understand.”
“Kufu, that’s so like you, Jin.”
“Father, I shall assist you.”
“First is John Dini,” Jin said, turning to Laojun.
“Is it about time we had him leave Mitsuho under the guise of returning home for a while?”
“Yes, My Lord. That is possible. Shall I execute the order?”
“Yeah, please do.”
“Understood. John Dini has finished his tour of southern Mitsuho and is currently in the town of Iyo. I will have him head toward Miyako to bid farewell to Hiro Mutu, and then proceed toward the Shouro Empire.”
“Yeah, that sounds good.”
With formal diplomatic relations established with the Shouro Empire and Jin’s presence there, they likely wouldn't be troubled by a shortage of magi craftsmen for the foreseeable future.
Thus, the automata John Dini would vanish from Mitsuho a few days later.
＊ ＊ ＊
“The next thing I want to do is change the designation ‘demon race’.”
“It’s true that the name ‘demon race’ has... unpleasant connotations,” Elsa agreed.
“I agree,” Saki added.
“I think impressions are important. To begin with, it seems ‘demon race’ is a name given to them by the humans of the Lauren Continent.”
In other words, it wasn't a name they had chosen for themselves.
“The Northern Clan... no, that’s no good.”
“Then, the Northern People?”
“Kufu, that’s quite literal. But it certainly fits, doesn't it?”
“Ah, I see.”
Jin realized something.
“‘Northern People’ might be fine, but they don't have a ‘country name’.”
“Ah, right.”
“I see.”
Since they were a people living in the northern lands, calling them the Northern People was perfectly acceptable. It would be much better received than ‘demon race’.
“A country name isn't for us to decide, though.”
“Mmh, of course.”
This was a matter he would have to discuss when he visited the demon territory—the Northern People territory—in the near future.
“All that’s left is checking on the monorail and the fragments of the long-period planet.”
“Are we going to the Celuroa Kingdom?” Elsa asked.
“I suppose so.”
Then Saki spoke up.
“In that case, I’ll stay here and work on the fragment analysis with Laojun.”
“Will you do that for me?”
“Yeah, leave it to me.”
And so, Jin and Elsa headed for the Celuroa Kingdom, while Saki remained to analyze the fragments of the long-period planet.
＊ ＊ ＊
“Jin-nii, have you been in a bit of a hurry lately?”
“In a hurry? Me?”
Elsa asked the question aboard Konron 3 as they flew toward the Celuroa Kingdom.
“Mmh. I feel like, somehow, you’re trying to settle everything all at once.”
Jin reflected on his recent actions.
“Maybe so... But, you know, I’ve been thinking.”
Seeing the slightly lonely cast of Jin’s profile, Elsa felt a pang of worry.
“About what?”
“Every time I go to Kaina Village, I remember my starting point.”
“Starting point...”
“Yeah. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I had just stayed in Kaina Village the whole time, living as a simple villager.”
“...I wouldn't like that. If you had, I wouldn't have met Jin-nii.”
Without realizing it, Elsa was clinging to Jin’s arm.
“I know.”
Jin put his arm around Elsa’s shoulder.
“I met you because I traveled the world. I know I got to meet Reinhard, Beena, Marcia, Saki... everyone, because of that.”
But, Jin continued.
“There’s a part of me that wishes I could just live a quiet life in Kaina Village.”
It was a sentiment anyone might feel.
Office workers long for the countryside.
Employees long to be their own bosses.
Those living uneventful lives day after day long for a life of excitement and upheaval.
“I guess it’s what they call ‘the grass is always greener on the other side’ or ‘the neighbor’s persimmons look redder’.”
It was the tendency for things to look better than one’s own reality when viewed through the filters of longing and wanting what one doesn't have.
“Even knowing that, it seems humans are prone to such longings.”
As Jin said this, Elsa’s grip on his arm tightened.
“...No. I won’t let go.”
Just as Jin was about to reply.
“Father, Elsa-sama, we will shortly be over the capital of the Celuroa Kingdom, Esaia.”
Reiko’s voice interrupted them.
“O-Oh, I see,” Jin replied, slightly flustered. Elsa pulled away.
Below them, several layers of city walls were visible—a solid defense protecting Esaia.
(But from now on...)
As long as airships existed, attacks from the sky were possible.
And city walls could do nothing to defend against that.
Before Jin’s eyes, ten hot air balloons appeared. They were the aerial defense of the Celuroa Kingdom.
Once the crews identified the family crest—a circle with two bars—painted on Konron 3 and confirmed Jin and Elsa through the cabin windows, they saluted and moved away.
Only one remained, beckoning as if to lead the way.
“Edgar, follow that hot air balloon.”
“Understood.”
Jin gave the instruction to his pilot.
Konron 3 followed perfectly behind the hot air balloon, which moved at a completely different league of speed.
It was a testament to Edgar’s extraordinary skill.
“Oh, look at that.”
The monorail tracks caught Jin’s eye.
“They’ve extended them.”
In addition to what Jin had previously built, a monorail acting as a circular route around the center of Esaia had been completed.
“As expected, the Celuroa Kingdom’s technical level is high.”
They had the technical ability to create something equivalent once they had a model to follow. That skill was now being used for the sake of the world.
It was a heartening development for Jin.
Konron 3 landed at the airfield, where King Cesar himself was waiting to greet them.
“Welcome, Lord of Kunlun.”