Jin was working through the design for the airship he planned to gift to the Empress Emerita—the former Empress.
"If I make it about half the size of Konron 3..."
Realizing that wouldn't provide sufficient buoyancy on its own, he opted for a twin-hull design, diving into the task with infectious enthusiasm. Elsa didn't object; in fact, she was right there by his side, assisting.
"Dear, if you're going with a twin-hull, you might want to make the gas bags a bit narrower."
"I see, you're right."
Jin sketched his ideas onto wood-paper with a pen, organizing his thoughts. Since he wasn't working alone, sharing these visual concepts with Elsa was essential for their collaboration.
They ultimately settled on a size roughly half that of the World Security Guard's twin-hull airships, with a capacity capped at five passengers.
"I think I'll incorporate force generators for safety as well."
He planned to make the craft maintenance-free and program it to self-erase if anyone attempted to dismantle it, ensuring his technology remained secure. Between discussing habitability and deciding on the color scheme, Jin and Elsa finalized their vision.
Once the general concept was settled, Jin and Elsa relaxed over cups of green tea brewed by Reiko. Yuu and Mio sat on their laps, munching on okaki rice crackers, the rhythmic crunching filling the room. Whenever the little ones grew thirsty and reached for their parents' tea, Reiko was already there, offering them their own cups cooled to the perfect temperature.
"Thank you!" the twins chimed.
They thanked her politely before drinking; their manners were coming along nicely. Jin and Elsa continued their talk while gently stroking the children's hair.
"Changing the subject..."
"Yes?"
"Are you aware of that interesting research Hanna's been conducting?"
"Ah, the next stage of the Doppels?"
"That's the one."
A Doppel was essentially controlled via brainwaves; it moved exactly as the operator intended and even provided sensory feedback. However, because the operator's own senses remained present, they never lost the awareness that they were merely "piloting" a puppet. It required a certain degree of practice to master. Hanna was trying to see if it was possible to interface at a deeper consciousness level.
"She's experimenting with sub-ether wave technology to see if it can be done."
"Mm... it would be incredible if she succeeds."
"I do wonder what would happen to the consciousness in the original body during the process," Jin mused. "Whether it would stay awake or fall into a sleep-like state."
Back in his original world, Japan, there had been plenty of speculation about "Full Dive" virtual reality that functioned in much the same way. Jin recalled discussions about sending electrical signals directly to the brain to stimulate the senses.
"Do you think it could eventually lead to transferring one's consciousness into an automata or a homunculus to live indefinitely?"
"I think you're getting ahead of yourself there."
"I guess so..."
It was a staple of fiction, but Jin recalled debates from his old world about the technical hurdles, like transmitting visual data or synthesizing a voice. He hadn't been particularly interested in the technical minutiae at the time, but he felt that if anyone could pull it off, it would be Hanna.
By May 5th, the airship for the Empress Emerita was complete, the result of two days of intensive work. The result was a graceful, silver-white craft measuring twenty-five meters in length, supported by two gas bags with a maximum diameter of seven meters. The gas bags and cabin were arranged in an inverted triangle configuration when viewed from the front, a design that minimized pitching and rolling.
"Mmh, it turned out well."
Not only Jin, but Elsa also wanted to repay her debt of gratitude to the Empress Emerita.
"Her Majesty dedicated her entire life to this country and the world, often at her own expense."
"Exactly. We want her to enjoy a peaceful life from here on out."
That was the shared sentiment of the couple.
"What do you think of the name 'Empress'?" Jin asked.
It was literal, but Jin felt it was fitting for her personal vessel.
"Mm... it might be best to check with her first, just in case."
Elsa agreed in principle, but they decided to hold off on finalizing the name for the moment.
They also created a dedicated golem to handle piloting and maintenance. Based on the Smith model, it featured a skeleton of 64 light silver to reduce weight.
"As for a name... 'Otto'? No, that won't work."
"Mmh. That was the footman who used to serve my family," Elsa noted. "The one who accompanied us on the carriage ride from Port Rock Town to the capital."
"Ah, right."
Jin had been thinking of Otto Lilienthal, but since the pioneer had died in a crash, it felt like a poor omen.
"How about 'Wright'? No, that's too confusing."
He'd moved on to the Wright brothers, but the name was far too similar to the "Light" spell.
"Wait, how about 'Flyer'?"
It was the name of the Wright brothers' first aircraft, and since it literally meant "one that flies," Elsa gave her nod of approval.
On May 6th, Jin and Elsa arrived at the Royal Palace, accompanied by Reiko, Edgar, and the twins.
"Oh my, you're giving this to me?"
"It's wonderful, Aunt."
Not only the Empress Emerita but the New Emperor Ernst Shouro had come to see the gift. The airship the Emperor currently used was a Konron 2 model Jin had donated two years prior; that vessel would now pass to the New Emperor.
"I was thinking of naming it 'Empress,' but I wasn't sure if that would be considered disrespectful."
"Certainly not," the New Emperor replied. "In the history of the Shouro Empire, there has only ever been one other female Emperor besides my aunt."
With her blessing, Jin used magi-craft to inscribe "Empress" and "EMPRESS" onto the hull. He then introduced Flyer 1, the golem designated for the ship's operation and upkeep.
"You'll be in good hands with Flyer 1."
"Oh, I'm so delighted! Thank you, Jin-kun, Elsa!"
The Empress Emerita accepted the gift with a beaming smile.
"And look at you two! It's been quite a while, hasn't it?"
"Gokigen yoroshiu gozaimachu, He-ka," Yuu chirped.
"Heika, gokigen yoroshiu gozaimachu," Mio echoed.
The twins gave their best attempts at formal greetings in their adorable, lispy voices. The Empress Emerita watched them with warmth in her eyes, gently stroking their hair once they finished.
Later, inside the palace, Jin presented his suggestions for her retirement residence.
"I see... the opposite shore of Lake Tosmo. That sounds lovely. I think I'll focus my search there."
It seemed she still preferred to stay within reach of the familiar surroundings of Loizart.