Once Jin finished repairing Hope, it was Lordtoss’s turn.
“Let’s see, this part goes like this, and...”
Lordtoss set about performing maintenance on Hanako. Since he hadn’t built her himself, Jin thought his movements looked somewhat clumsy and hesitant.
However, the automaton’s original construction was excellent, so the work was finished in short order. Watching from the side, Jin found nothing to criticize.
The two took a nap to wait for dawn, but Jin found sleep elusive. He spent the time staring blankly up at the sky.
Eventually, the Moon (Uni) peeked over the eastern mountains. Jin gazed at it with a heavy heart.
Even after four hundred years, that hasn't changed... though I suppose Milowina is long gone by now.
Still, he couldn't help but wonder—if Jack was still functional, and if he could somehow establish contact...
Well, once I reach the Nord Federation, a path should open up.
Jin currently lacked materials, a foundation for living, and any social standing.
I never expected to be quite this helpless.
He reflected on how he had grown complacent, relying far too heavily on the specialized environment of Hourai Island.
As he brooded over these thoughts, Jin eventually drifted into sleep without even realizing it.
＊ ＊ ＊
By the time the eastern sky began to pale, Jin and Lordtoss had already finished their breakfast.
“We should be able to retrieve the Magi Machine I hid today,” Lordtoss said.
Jin found himself looking forward to it as well.
Mounting their Golem horses once more, they set their sights on the east.
“Our landmark is a rocky spire, about three hundred meters high.”
In this vast wasteland, such a feature was incredibly prominent. It made perfect sense for Lordtoss to use it as a guidepost.
After about thirty minutes of travel, a spire matching the description came into view.
“There it is.”
The group headed straight for the landmark.
“It’s massive when you see it up close,” Jin remarked.
It reminded him of Tokyo Tower. Lordtoss explained that there was a cave at its base where he had hidden the Magi Machine.
“Ah, this is the spot.”
Lordtoss pointed to a location where several massive boulders—each more than an armful in size—were piled together.
“After I tucked it away in the small cave, I piled these rocks up to keep it out of sight.”
Even at a conservative estimate, each boulder weighed at least two hundred kilograms, and there were seven of them. Jin was once again struck by the sheer physical prowess of the Northern People.
“Right then, let’s move them.”
With a grunt of effort, Lordtoss hoisted the boulders and tossed them aside one after another.
In no time at all, the small cave mouth was revealed.
“Found it. It’s inside here.”
Lordtoss reached in and pulled out a container roughly the size of a storage trunk.
“It’s surprisingly small.”
“It’s a collapsible model,” Lordtoss explained as he opened the lid.
“...A balloon?”
“Something like that. It’s called a Blow Floater.”
“A Blow Floater?”
The term was unfamiliar to Jin, but Lordtoss’s next words clarified the matter.
“Yes. It’s a vehicle developed by Marikka-sama about two hundred and fifty years ago.”
“I see.”
Lordtoss began assembling the machine with practiced efficiency.
“I see...” Jin murmured as he watched.
In essence, the device was designed to use wind to keep a balloon aloft.
“I see, so it’s kite-style.”
In principle, it was similar to the Flying Discs of Onogoro Island. Marikka must have taken that concept and improved upon it.
Once the assembly was complete, Lordtoss activated the Blow Engine.
The gas bag began to swell before their eyes. Its shape was more akin to a parachute than a standard balloon, and it looked quite different from a hang glider.
“Let’s go.”
Lordtoss climbed into the folding gondola made of 64 light silver, followed by Hanako. Jin and Hope climbed in as well, but then Jin paused.
“What about the Golem horses?”
The gondola was nowhere near large enough to accommodate them.
“I’ll have those two run to our next destination on their own. In Sprinting Mode, they can maintain speeds of over one hundred kilometers per hour.”
Without riders, the golems could run at full speed without needing to worry about the shifting center of gravity. Jin nodded in understanding.
“Understood. And where is our next destination?”
“Mitsuho.”
Jin felt a surge of nostalgia at the mention of that name.
“It’s about eight hundred kilometers away, so we should be able to reach it by this evening.”
Lordtoss claimed this Blow Floater could reach speeds of around one hundred kilometers per hour. For the first time, Jin truly felt the technological progress of the era.
“Even if those people are still pursuing us, they won’t be able to catch up now.”
Based on the speed of their initial interception, Lordtoss suspected the three Principalities might be working together behind the scenes, but he believed this would finally allow them to break away.
“Departing.”
The craft floated up gently, and then the propulsion Blow Engine kicked in.
Since the gondola was open-air, Jin had expected it to be cold, but that wasn't the case.
“The machine has a wind-blocking barrier, so it’s perfectly comfortable even at one hundred kilometers per hour.”
The design was remarkably well-thought-out.
“Wouldn't it have been easier to just use a Warp Gate to skip all the travel time?” Jin asked.
After all, Jin had made a habit of installing Warp Gates all over the world.
“It’s not that I didn't believe my great-grandmother’s words, but I couldn't be certain I would actually find you, Jin-sama...”
“That’s fair.”
A Warp Gate wasn't something one could just install on a whim. Jin, who had spent his previous life placing them everywhere as if they were nothing, was the one who was truly outside the norm.
The Blow Floater soared over the mountain range. Thanks to the barrier, even the air pressure inside the gondola remained stable.
“Still, it would be dangerous to try and cross to the Gondoa Continent in this thing without warning.”
Lordtoss explained that bad weather would be a serious threat. Since it was a collapsible model, the structural strength was limited, which Jin found reasonable.
“So, where exactly in Mitsuho are we headed?”
When Jin asked, he received an unexpected answer.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know the specific location. Regardless, once we land in Mitsuho, we should be able to manage.”
Because Mitsuho was a Conference Country—meaning it participated in the World Conference—it maintained active trade and interaction with the Gondoa Continent.
“Mitsuho, huh...”
Jin considered that if he could find Akitsu, he might be able to return to Hourai Island via the Shinkai relay station. However, as if sensing Jin’s preoccupation, Lordtoss spoke up again.
“...Jin-sama, I must ask you once more. If possible, please meet with my great-grandmother first.”
“She said she has something of great importance to discuss with you,” Lordtoss insisted.
“...I understand.”
Jin had a desperate desire to return to his own time as soon as possible, but if Sion called it an 'important matter', he felt obligated to listen.
Besides, if I do eventually return to the past, Sion would know that from her history, which is likely why she sent Lordtoss to find me in the first place... I should definitely hear what she has to say.
Since they had plenty of time, they ate lunch inside the gondola.
“This will be the last of this awful food,” Lordtoss said with a laugh.
Having run out of their specialized rations, they had been reduced to gnawing on dry bread since the previous night.
By that evening, the familiar sights of the land of Mitsuho finally came into view below them.