Jin’s "team" turned their attention to the "automobile" next.
A substantial shipment of metallic materials had arrived from Lorenz’s shop.
"I think I can make a Golem Engine with this."
"I heard you repaired one before, Jin, but you can actually build one from scratch? I only ever heard about them from my master... that’s amazing," Eira said.
"Travel will... become much easier, won't it?" Kachea added.
"Yeah."
Secretly, Jin was considering whether he could use this vehicle to reach the royal capital. If he could use the Warp Gate located there, he could cross over to the Lauren Continent.
But he kept that ambition hidden in his heart, simply declaring: "Anyway, it would be great if we could build a 'domestic' automobile."
Nothing could happen until he finished the engine, but as long as he had the materials, it was a simple task for Jin.
"I’ll mix iron with nickel and chromium to create stainless steel for the parts."
Metal materials like nickel and chromium were in circulation, though only in small quantities.
"I’ll leave that side of things to you, Jin. What should we do?" Eira asked.
"I’m planning to repurpose a carriage for the body."
The carriages in this country were highly standardized, categorized into large, medium, and small—or L, M, and S. The large-class was an eight-seater, while the small-class sat three.
For this project, they decided to use a five-seater medium-class carriage. Eira and Kachea headed to the carriage shop together.
"Am I... actually going to be of any help?" Kachea asked.
Eira laughed. "I need you to negotiate the price down."
"I... I see."
While the authorities paid for research materials like metal, the team was expected to procure the supplies for their specific R&D projects themselves. The money spent was essentially a reimbursement system; they had to pay upfront, get a receipt, and submit it to a window for review before they were paid back.
"What a strange system..." Kachea, who had a natural talent for accounting, tilted her head in confusion. Still, as a newcomer, it wasn't her place to complain. She simply focused on doing her part as a member of the team.
"This carriage looks decent. Jin said he wanted something with a solid undercarriage."
Jin had specified that he didn't need anything with luxurious seats or excessive decoration, a sentiment Eira and Kachea shared.
"A-And... look, the wheels are old. Jin-san said to check the wheels carefully too."
"Hmm? Ah, you're right. You’ve got a sharp eye, Kachea."
"P-Please, don't flatter me."
After some deliberation, the two selected a single carriage.
"This one looks like the best bet."
"Yes, I agree."
From that point on, it was Kachea's time to shine.
Interrupting the shopkeeper as soon as he offered a twenty percent discount, she began to speak with the relentless flow of a waterfall. She pointed out how it had been left out in the rain and noted the footprints from people getting in with muddy shoes.
"From what I can see, this is quite an old model. That means it’s unsold stock. It’s an awkward size, too—if you miss this chance to sell it, who knows when the next buyer will come along?"
She was right; medium-class carriages didn't sell well in this town.
"Alright, alright. Forty percent off."
"And you'll throw in spare wheels, right?"
"...I’m no match for you."
Thus, Eira and Kachea secured the perfect carriage while leaving a significant portion of their budget untouched.
Hope, who had accompanied them, handled the task of transporting it back to the research wing.
"He looks so slender, yet he has such incredible strength."
"Well, he is one of Jin-san's creations..."
Even when Eira and then Kachea hopped inside, Hope pulled the carriage with total composure.
"Come to think of it, I’ve heard there are countries where golems pull cars," Eira remarked.
"Heeh... that sounds interesting. Oh, but Lorenz-san was using them to pull his goods too."
"The ones I know about are on the other continent, though."
"Ah... that’s right, Eira-san, you’re from over there, aren't you?"
The two were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn't notice the stares they were drawing from the public. Before long, they arrived back at the research wing.
"Welcome back....Oh, you picked a good one."
Jin was waiting for them, having already completed the Golem Engine.
"Kachea was the star of the show....Jin, is that the engine?"
"Yeah. I think it turned out pretty well."
Jin inspected the carriage thoroughly.
"Hmm, this is good. The frame is solid, and the suspension is well-made. Let’s get to work."
"Right on!"
"W-What should I do?" Kachea asked, looking for her assignment.
"I need you to handle the paperwork. Once that’s done, start planning out the interior configuration."
"Understood."
While Kachea focused on the administrative tasks, Jin and Eira began modifying the carriage.
"These are good wheels."
He modified the undercarriage to install steering.
"I’ll need to reinforce the axles."
He performed Carburizing on the shafts and replaced the bearings with ball bearings.
"A differential is... probably asking too much for now."
Instead, he decided to slightly reduce the load on the rear wheels—the drive side. This would make it a little easier to navigate curves.
"Jin! I’ve got all the seats facing forward!"
"Oh, perfect....Next are the brakes... how should I handle those?"
Since it was originally a carriage, it hadn't been designed with the assumption that brakes would be installed, unlike the automobile he had repaired previously.
"We’ll use engine braking as a backup... but I think a rim-clamping style is the way to go."
Because the base was a carriage, Jin referred to the parts where the tires were attached as rims rather than wheels. Essentially, he installed a braking system that worked by clamping the rims, much like a standard bicycle.
As the sun began to set, their "automobile" reached a state of tentative completion.
"I have a few gripes, but for now, it's finished."
"Jin, let’s take it for a spin!" Eira was practically bouncing with excitement.
"Yes! Let’s ride, let’s ride!" Even Kachea was uncharacteristically giddy.
"Alright."
Jin climbed into the driver's seat while Kachea and Eira took the back.
"Wake up."
Jin pulled the start lever. The Golem Engine was now running, but since it was a direct-drive system, the automobile didn't move yet.
"Here we go."
Jin slowly depressed the accelerator. The vehicle began to roll forward in response.
"Oh! We did it!"
"It moved!!"
"Jin, can't we go any faster?"
"Hang on, give it a second."
Jin tested the handling, turning the steering wheel left and right and experimenting with acceleration and deceleration to confirm the build quality.
"Yeah, this isn't bad at all. Okay, here we go!"
He floored the accelerator, and the automobile lurched forward.
"Whoa! It’s fast!"
"Wow..."
Moving at roughly thirty kilometers per hour, the automobile circled the courtyard of the research wing. They only stopped when it became pitch black and they realized they hadn't installed any headlights.
Five days after Jin's team completed their original automobile...
"To the royal capital?"
Orders were handed down for the three of them to head to the royal capital.
(This is my chance.)
The night before their departure, Jin lay in bed, his mind racing.
(If I can use the Warp Gate in the royal capital, I can cross over to the Lauren Continent.)
He had no idea what he would find on the other side. However, he expected to find more than just the gate; he hoped to gather information on the current state of the Lauren Continent.
(Information first. Then the Warp Gate.)
Impatience is the enemy, Jin reminded himself.
"Hmm... where did the information leak from?"
"Lorenz is under surveillance, after all... Perhaps a spy has infiltrated?"
"It’s too late to hide it now... and the fact that they're only allowed to bring one golem—the one Jin made—is a nasty touch."
"Must we prepare ourselves for the worst?"
"No, not yet. Just you watch, those fools on the Committee..."
Unaware of the various schemes swirling around them, the round Moon, Uni, shone brightly in the sky outside.