Jin and Lordtoss walked along the main boulevard.
"I’m told this is the second-largest street in Telurus," Lordtoss said. "And the first when it comes to sheer bustle."
"Yeah, I can see that."
A sea of humanity surged past them, a density of crowds that reminded Jin of Tokyo.
"I wonder what the population of the Celuroa Kingdom is these days?"
Even for this question, which Jin hadn't expected a firm answer to, Lordtoss was prepared.
"Let’s see... according to the census from the year before last, it was roughly five hundred thousand."
"Five hundred thousand, huh..."
According to Jin's memory, it had been around two hundred thousand people four centuries ago.
"It’s increased two and a half times."
"Yes. Every nation in the Allied Kingdoms has seen its population double or triple. It’s believed to be a result of advancements in public health, medicine, and agricultural techniques."
"I see..."
Jin felt a quiet sense of pride, knowing that his own past efforts had likely contributed to those advancements.
The clothing of the people in the streets was also slightly different from what he remembered. There wasn't a dramatic shift in style, but the overall look felt more sophisticated—refined, in a sense.
"Do you know what kind of fabrics they use for these clothes?"
However, it seemed that even the knowledgeable Lordtoss had reached the limit of his trivia.
"Well then, let's stop by a clothier."
Jin was currently wearing the clothes he had purchased in the Mercana Principality. He couldn't shake the feeling that he looked like a bit of a rustic—or perhaps just a man who was hopelessly out of fashion. The modern clothes he had originally arrived in were tucked away in his bag.
"Maybe this place will work."
Most clothing stores focused sixty percent of their stock on women, twenty percent on men, and twenty percent on children, but this shop dedicated about thirty percent of its floor space to menswear.
"This fabric is... Ground Spider Silk (GSS)."
The durability was significantly lower than the variety produced on Hourai Island, but it was unmistakably GSS. It was a textile that possessed strength and flexibility, along with a natural luster that synthetic resins could never replicate.
(Perhaps focusing on magi-craft rather than scientific technology really was the better path for this world...)
Science and technology invariably damaged the environment to some degree. However, because magi-craft relied primarily on biological materials, it didn't result in environmental destruction aside from the mining of mineral resources. Of course, there was always the risk of over-harvesting to secure those biological materials, but still...
There were also many garments made of magisilk, though the quality was again inferior to the products of Hourai Island. Most shirts were made of cotton, a fact that truly hammered home the passage of four hundred years for Jin.
The cost of living hadn't changed drastically from the old days. If anything, the price of daily necessities had likely dropped. Jin considered that a positive sign of progress.
In the end, Jin bought a dress shirt and a jacket before he and Lordtoss returned to the hotel. Since there was still time before dinner, Jin headed for the baths.
"I'm glad it's not crowded."
The bathroom was spacious, much like a public bathhouse, and there were only about three other guests. Jin was able to stretch his limbs and relax in the hot water.
Perhaps because the hotel hosted guests from many different countries, dinner was served buffet-style. Jin selected white rice, miso soup, grilled fish, oshinko, and tamagoyaki.
While scanning the beverage options, "Kaina tea" caught his eye. When he took a sample, he was greeted by a nostalgic flavor. It was unmistakably tea brewed from the tea trees of Kaina Village. Naturally, Jin chose that as his drink.
"This is proof that the distribution networks are working well..."
The fact that local specialties from all over the world were readily available was a sign of healthy cultural exchange. Especially when it came to food, Jin thought as he sipped his miso soup.
Lordtoss, meanwhile, had opted for a combination of bread, Cowbull steak, vegetable soup, salad, and red wine.
"Pardon me, would you mind if we joined you?"
"Not at all. Please, go ahead."
Since Jin and Lordtoss were the only ones at the six-person table, an elderly couple asked to share the space.
"Are you two here for sightseeing?" the husband asked Jin, who was finishing his tea.
"Well, no. We're just stopping over on our way to our destination."
"I see, I see."
"Are you two traveling as a couple?"
"Yes. I've finally retired and have some time to myself, so I thought I'd take my wife out..."
The old man’s smile was soft and gentle.
"Retired... were you in the military, then?"
"I was. Though, I was a technical officer."
"Technical? Does that mean you worked with golems?"
"Indeed. Personally, I always had a longing to be involved with airships, though."
The old man spoke of his youthful dreams of the sky.
"I still remember the days when I wanted to fly freely through the blue heavens."
Jin understood that sentiment all too well.
"So, about the golems..."
It was only for a brief moment, but Jin and the old man enjoyed a conversation as fellow engineers.
＊ ＊ ＊
"I think I'm finally starting to understand this era a little better."
Back in his room, Jin lay alone on his bed, staring up at the ceiling.
"It’s not as if everything is perfect, but the world seems to be turning well enough in its own way."
The people he saw in the streets were smiling. Magi-craft was progressing, even if it was slower than he had expected. Above all, the population growth was proof that people had enough stability in their lives to raise families. He had his reservations about the Western Principalities, but...
"Even that is a problem for the people living in the 'now' to solve."
The world was slightly different from what Jin had imagined, but if this was the path the people of this era had chosen, he had no intention of interfering.
"But what happened to Hourai Island and the Quinta... I suppose I'll only know for sure once I ask Sion."
Jin found his desire to meet and speak with her growing even stronger.
"And then there are the golems."
Who had developed the technology used in the golem he had seen recently? He decided he would ask Sion about that as well. Eventually, worn out by his racing thoughts, Jin drifted off to sleep.
＊ ＊ ＊
"Good morning. I hope we can make it as far as the Klein Kingdom today."
Unlike the previous day, the sky was a blanket of gray clouds.
"I'd rather not fly through heavy rain in this Blow Floater," Lordtoss added.
Considering the craft's stability and power, Lordtoss insisted that bad weather was a risk. Though Jin wanted to see Sion as soon as possible, he found himself agreeing.
"True. I definitely want to reach Sion, but there's no need to take unnecessary risks."
"I understand."
Lordtoss thought for a moment.
"In that case, let's first head north toward the Kingdom of Franz. Then we can cross over where the mountain ridge is lower and continue north. Let's take that route."
Jin visualized the path in his mind. Since there were no high peaks along that way, he judged it would be relatively safe even if the weather took a turn for the worse.
"Yeah, let's go with that."
With their plan decided, Jin and Lordtoss headed for the airport.