After the report meeting, Jin and his companions were stopped by the Chancellor and Princess Lieschen.
"Jin-dono, might I have a moment?"
"Certainly, what is it?"
With no reason to decline, Jin and the others were shown to a small conference room.
"Are you aware that the Kingdom of Egerea has also dispatched an investigation team to the ruins?" the Chancellor asked.
"Yes, I've heard."
"Excellent. Well, a report meeting for their investigation is to be held in the Kingdom of Egerea as well. Would you be interested in attending?"
Jin could see where the conversation was heading. "I would."
A satisfied smile spread across the Chancellor's face. "Splendid. In that case, I have a favor to ask of you..."
The Chancellor’s request was for Jin to provide transport for Princess Lieschen, Tia, and Harvey Sotos Flagroad, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magi Technology, to the Kingdom of Egerea.
Apparently, they only required transport for the outbound journey.
"With the speed of Konron 3, that shouldn't be a problem."
Given the airship's capacity, there was more than enough room for everyone.
"Then I must ask this of you! Of course, you will be compensated for your trouble."
"It's fine. So, when does it begin?"
"The day after tomorrow, from what I've been told."
"Then we will be in time if we depart tomorrow morning."
"Umu. I’m counting on you."
Jin wanted to see what the Egerean investigation team had discovered, and since he had acquaintances there, he accepted the request readily.
"Ah, and Lishia Fahlheit—you have permission to accompany them as well," the Chancellor added, turning to her.
"Th-thank you very much!"
Knowing how close Lishia was to Jin and Elsa, the Chancellor had seen fit to grant the request.
"Will this be an official visit?" Jin asked.
"No, the official stance is merely that they are hitching a ride on your Konron 3. Therefore, it is no problem regardless of who you choose to bring with you, Jin-dono."
Anticipating that Jin would want to take Hanna along, the Chancellor provided this explanation. Their stance was strictly that they were being allowed to ride along because Jin happened to be going to the Kingdom of Egerea.
"Understood."
Jin was satisfied with the arrangement. His only remaining question was the final destination.
"I have heard that the 'Lord of Kunlun' is permitted to come and go freely from the royal palaces of various nations, so I would ask that you deliver them directly to the palace in Asunt."
Since this was already an established privilege, Jin nodded.
"Understood."
Princess Lieschen smiled happily. "Jin, I am counting on you!"
She seemed quite looking forward to visiting the Kingdom of Egerea, where her fiancé, Prince Ernest, was waiting.
And so, it was decided that Jin, Elsa, Hanna, Lishia, Reiko, and Edgar would travel to the Kingdom of Egerea along with Princess Lieschen and Undersecretary Harvey.
"This is my first time going to the Kingdom of Egerea. I'm so excited!" Hanna said, her eyes bright.
Jin felt it was a perfect opportunity; he had been looking for a chance to show Hanna a country she had never visited before.
"Are you sure it's alright for me to go as well...?" Lishia asked, sounding a bit more reserved.
"The Chancellor gave his blessing, didn't he? After that, it's just a matter of your duties back in Toka Village."
"...Well, there isn't much work to do there right now, and Fred has learned a great deal of the business."
"Fred... is that the former soldier?"
"Yes. He seems much better suited for administrative work; I'm thinking of officially promoting him to Secretary soon."
"I see."
People sometimes possessed unexpected talents that they themselves were unaware of. Attending an educational institution served to increase the chances of discovering such latent abilities.
"Even Lishia was better suited to being a relief ritter than a regular knight, and Elsa had a hidden talent for magi-engineering," Jin noted. Though the most surprising one is Hanna.
"It's all thanks to you, Onii-chan," Hanna replied with a bashful smile.
The group stayed at the Klein Kingdom’s Royal Palace again that night.
＊ ＊ ＊
"Then, Lord of Kunlun, I leave my daughter in your care."
"Yes, leave it to me."
The following day, Jin and the others were making final preparations for departure to the Kingdom of Egerea aboard Konron 3.
King Alois III had appeared with Princess Lieschen to see them off. Tia was by the princess's side, and Undersecretary Harvey arrived shortly after.
"Jin-dono, stay safe. Your Highness, have a safe journey."
"Yes, thank you very much."
"Umu, we shall be off."
After exchanging farewells with the Chancellor, Jin, Princess Lieschen, and Tia boarded the airship. Elsa and Hanna were already inside.
"Lishia, you take care as well."
"Y-yes!"
Lishia boarded as well. Finally, Reiko gave a polite bow before entering and closing the hatch.
Konron 3 began its slow ascent, gradually gaining altitude. Within a few minutes, it had vanished completely from the sight of those on the ground.
＊ ＊ ＊
"Ohhh, w-we're flying!!"
The most excited person on board was Undersecretary Harvey.
He was thirty-five years old, stood 170 centimeters tall, and weighed 65 kilograms—a standard build for this world—with unremarkable brown hair and eyes. According to the Chancellor, however, he was exceptionally capable.
"Jin-dono, I have ridden aboard my own country's airship once before, but the stability here is on an entirely different level! Is there some secret to it?...Ah, perhaps I shouldn't have asked that."
He was quite restless, excitedly peppering Jin with questions only to immediately retract them.
"Harvey, calm yourself a little," Princess Lieschen chided.
"Y-yes, my apologies."
"True, no matter how many times I ride, I never tire of the view from the sky. Especially since it is one of Jin's creations, after all."
The princess spoke while gazing at the world below through the floor window. Konron 3 was cruising at an altitude of 3,000 meters at a speed of about 100 kilometers per hour, with clouds occasionally drifting beneath them.
The distance from Alban to Asunt was approximately 300 kilometers, meaning a travel time of about three hours. Since they had departed Alban around 8:00 AM, they would arrive by 11:00 AM.
Word of Konron 3's approach had been sent ahead via manaphone, so there was no worry about being intercepted. Not that anyone was likely to mistake the airship for anything else.
As scheduled, they arrived at Asunt at 11:00 AM. Escorted by a hot air balloon from the Kingdom of Egerea, Konron 3 landed at the special airfield in the Royal Palace courtyard.