The conversation between Jin and No. 700672 continued.
"Are there any technical issues with separating Hourai Island from Planet Ars?"
"I don't think there are. The subterranean magma has stabilized, so the only concern might be the underground aquifers."
Jin felt it was a bit of a shame that the hot springs might stop flowing.
"How deep would you need to excavate?"
"Let's see... digging thirty kilometers down should be more than enough."
Hourai Island measured roughly ninety kilometers at its longest point and seventy kilometers at its shortest.
Mount Hourai stood three thousand meters tall. Having already mined resources to a depth of roughly ten kilometers, Jin concluded that thirty kilometers would provide an ample margin.
"I’d also like to keep a bit of the sea, since we have the preserve there. I’m wondering if it might be best to close off Tatsumi Bay."
Jin mentioned that another possibility would be to build an enclosure around Hourai Island to keep the seawater within it.
"Heh, your ability to speak of such things so nonchalantly is truly impressive, Jin-dono."
"That said, I can't predict how the ocean currents would change if Hourai Island disappeared, and we wouldn't be able to suppress the southward migration of the Death Sea Serpents. It’s not something I can carry out lightly."
"I see. Knowing you have that awareness makes me feel even more at ease."
No. 700672 let out a pleasant laugh.
"Also, Tsetse Island isn't the sort of place you mine for resources. I'm hoping to make it public alongside Magus Cape and have conservation measures put in place."
"Indeed."
As expected, Jin had no intention of digging up the foundation of Tsetse Island, which served as a burial site.
"Well, for now, this is still just at the proposal stage; it can't even be called a plan yet."
Of course, there was always the option of leaving everything as it was.
In that case, at some point in the future, it would become necessary to declare that the island was the base of the Magi Craft Meister.
"I think that would be fine in its own way."
"I suppose so."
This was a conversation for a day when ordinary people could easily fly around the world and travel anywhere across the seas of Ars.
"Besides, the time spent making plans is fun in itself."
"Yes, I understand that well."
No. 700672 nodded at Jin's words.
"The planning stage is when possibilities—or rather, options—are at their peak, after all."
"Ah, that's true."
As a plan became more concrete, the number of options naturally dwindled.
"Though the time when things start to take shape after the decisions are made is also rewarding."
"Heh, Jin-dono, I suspect you're content as long as you're making something."
"That might be true."
The two of them laughed together.
"Father, when will we move here?"
When Jin and No. 700672's conversation reached a natural break, Neige spoke up.
"Nothing concrete has been decided yet," No. 700672 answered in a quiet voice.
"As for me, I would like to live here as soon as possible."
"I see..."
Their current home was inside the Heavenly Ship. Listening nearby, Jin realized she must feel cramped and claustrophobic there.
"I'll help too, so please move in as soon as you can."
"Hm? Ah, I see....Very well."
No. 700672 seemed to sympathize with Neige's feelings and nodded at Jin's offer.
＊ ＊ ＊
"Now then, I need to wrap these ideas up."
With so many suggestions on the table, Jin decided it was time to set firm priorities and get to work. He moved to the central bridge of the Adriana with No. 700672 and Reiko.
From here, they could hold an online consultation with Laojun on Hourai Island.
No. 700672's opinion was indispensable. After all, he was effectively a direct descendant of the Progenitors, the original masters of Planet Hale.
Incidentally, Neige and Rouge had fallen asleep inside Konron 3, exhausted from their excitement. Jin had summoned one forestry golem, Fores, to watch over them.
"Ultimately, we will keep the resource-gathering Satellite Alpha in orbit and bring down materials as needed using the Warp Gate."
"Yes, that seems the most sensible approach."
They finally settled on this plan for resource management.
"As for environmental development, I'd like to proceed with the current course."
"I have no objections to that either. You are doing a fine job, Jin-dono."
"Thank you. And regarding your residence, No. 700672..."
This was what Jin was most concerned about.
"Oh, as for that, Neige and Rouge put together a list of their wishes, so I'd like to use that as a base."
"Is that so?"
Jin braced himself for a moment, wondering if they might have made some outrageous requests, but the suggestions were actually quite reasonable.
The first proposal was to use a dome identical to the Progenitors'.
The second was to excavate the mountainside and turn caves into rooms. While it was a playful idea, the intent seemed to be to minimize the impact on the landscape.
The third proposal was simply to try building a normal house.
"It's hard to choose."
"Yes. Those children have almost never voiced their own desires until now, you see."
Hearing that, Jin made a suggestion.
"Then let's grant all of them."
"All of them?"
"There’s no real contradiction between these requests. We can excavate a grotto into the cliff face to serve as a lookout, use the dome as an annex, and build a normal house as the main residence."
No. 700672 gave a small chuckle.
"Heh, that is very like you, Jin-dono. But you are certainly right....Will you help me?"
"Of course. In fact, I intended to from the very beginning."
And so, the specific design work began.
"Let's make the house the center, from which you can reach the dome and the grotto."
"Ho, that's an interesting layout."
Jin drew a rough sketch on paper. He was an expert at this kind of drafting.
"We'll connect each one with a connecting corridor or a covered walkway... like this."
"I see, I see....In that case, wouldn't it be better to do this here?"
"Ah, that's a good point. Then over here, we can do this..."
No. 700672 seemed to be enjoying the deliberation as well, enthusiastically offering ideas alongside Jin.
"It's finished."
"Indeed."
For the grotto, Jin took some inspiration from Toscosia, the border town in the Celuroa Kingdom near the Shouro Empire. He also drew from memories of the Dunhuang cave temples he had seen on television.
"Let's fit the windows with glass or cubic zirconia, just to be safe."
This was to keep out insects, rain, and dust.
"The house part will be a standard construction from the Shouro Empire using locally sourced stone."
"Umu."
Jin called the design "standard," but it was based on the fashions of four hundred years ago; he didn't stop to consider that trends might have shifted in the centuries since.
"And finally, we'll build the dome as a spacious, relaxing area to serve as the living room."
"Your ideas are quite fascinating, Jin-dono."
No. 700672 seemed satisfied.
Incidentally, when they showed the conceptual drawings to Neige and Rouge later, both of them were reportedly overjoyed.