"And here we are, approaching the midway point of the race! The gap between the leaders and the chasing pack is widening, but it's still anyone's game!"
Now on its fourth lap, the air race was growing increasingly fierce.
Thunderous cheers rose from the spectators, and under-the-table betting on the winner was seemingly in full swing.
"Hmm. I'm not one for gambling, but if illicit betting is bound to happen anyway, sanctioned wagers might actually be better. That way, some revenue would flow into the host village," Jin murmured.
After all, the only surefire way to profit from gambling was to be the house.
"The lead pack consists of Bib #9, 2, and 7! They've just flashed past the grandstands! A few seconds behind them comes the second pack, running in order of Bib #8, 1, and 3!"
"They've essentially broken into three distinct groups. Speed is clearly the deciding factor on a course like this," Maquina provided color commentary.
"To begin with, the layout was kept secret from the racers until right before the event. Tuning and finishing their craft was left entirely to each competitor's discretion."
"I see. So there was every chance of a highly technical course, then."
"Precisely. It was an intentional test devised by Jin-dono, one of the key organizers—or rather, the principal host."
"A test to see which approach works better: keeping the course under wraps, or announcing it in advance."
"That is correct. You could say this format places greater weight on evaluating raw technical expertise."
Maquina noted that it was an approach thoroughly characteristic of Jin as an engineer.
"Ah, so that's the rationale. Then if the course had been announced earlier..."
"Every single team would have tuned their craft strictly for speed, no doubt."
Maquina added that such an all-out sprint would have offered its own kind of entertainment for the spectators.
"Thank you, Maquina-san, for that insightful analysis!...Now then, as we speak, the crafts are rapidly closing in on the turnaround point!"
"The sheer raw power might not be overwhelming, but knowing there are people on board makes it thrilling, doesn't it?"
"It certainly does. Though honestly, this massive crowd is impressive enough on its own."
"I'd love to take part in something like this..."
Whispering softly among themselves so as not to be overheard by those around them were Rubina Garrett, her grandmother Amanda Garrett, and Greena Kuzuma.
"Ladies, there is no need for concern. I have deployed a sound-dampening barrier around us," Laozi assured them with attentive care. He was a mobile terminal of the artificial intelligence serving as Hourai Island's management magi-brain, boasting the greatest information-processing capacity in the world.
For these guests from Onogoro Island, Jin had arranged a dedicated attendant ranking just behind himself, Jin D, Reiko, and Maquina.
"Say, Laozi-san, is Jin-sama very busy right now?"
"Yes, extraordinarily so..."
"Will he be all right for the demonstration flight?"
"He is currently pulling various strings to ensure everything is ready in time."
"I see..."
While the race venue buzzed with excitement, behind the scenes, the Klein Kingdom's Second Ritter Order was waging a grueling campaign to breach and secure the underground facility beneath Egeera Mine.
"Vanguard squad, report."
"Sir! We have successfully disarmed the traps, though two men sustained injuries. Replacements have already taken their place. The wounded are in stable condition."
"Understood. Keep pushing forward."
Even with a full night having passed, their ordeal was far from over.
Constructed within the abandoned mine shafts, the underground facility was a labyrinth of winding passages, virtually impassable to anyone unfamiliar with its layout.
"We have advanced to the third basement level. Two security golems were encountered and neutralized."
"Good work. What else?"
"We are currently sweeping the floor, but we have yet to locate anyone, including Garrison Yack Aux."
"Hmm..."
"I hesitate to bring this up, but... could it be that they aren't even here?"
"It is a possibility. However, our orders are to scour this facility to the bottom. We must see our duty through."
Naturally, every development was being relayed straight to Hourai Island.
'The search efficiency of the Klein Kingdom's ritter order is considerably lower than anticipated...'
It seemed that even the ever-calculating Laojun had failed to predict their sluggish pace.
"Laojun, are they still not done?"
'They are not, My Lord. You have my deepest apologies.'
"Well, it can't be helped. I was the one who insisted the Klein Kingdom should catch the ringleader with their own hands, after all."
'Please do not trouble yourself over it, My Lord. Pray focus your attention on your demonstration flight.'
"Hmm, I'd like to, but I can't help worrying."
'I am utterly mortified.'
"Quinta is on standby, right?"
'Yes. I believe it is about time we deploy them.'
"All right. That puts my mind at ease."
'Leave the matter to us.'
Hearing that Quinta would be sent in, Jin was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.
"The race is now on its seventh lap! Wait! We have a dramatic shift in the second pack!"
"Bib #1 is making his move, isn't he?"
Bib #1 was Lordtoss.
"Aha... It appears he has traded stability for sharper maneuverability."
"Commentator Maquina-san, is such a mid-race adjustment even possible?"
"It is. A craft's ability to change direction is heavily dictated by its overall length and wingspan."
"...I see. In other words, a larger frame makes tight turns much harder, correct?"
"Precisely. And Bib #1 features a relatively compact circular wing, making it an inherently nimble craft to begin with."
Maquina and Yuzo Mayaka watched as Bib #1 streaked across the magi-screen.
"Ah, indeed."
"While that configuration compromises stability, he compensated by setting the gondola housing the cockpit further below the wing than on standard models. Now, using an internal mechanism built into the chassis, he has drawn them closer together."
Checking the magi-screen once more, Yuzo Mayaka gasped.
"Ah, you're right!...Did everyone catch that? What an ingenious secret Bib #1 had up its sleeve!"
"By tightening his turning radius, he minimizes the speed lost through the corners—which is precisely how he slipped past Bib #8."
"Oh, Lordtoss just overtook another craft."
Over on Hourai Island, everyone besides Jin had their eyes glued to the race broadcast.
Just then, Saki strolled into the room.
"Hey, Jin, is the matter wrapped up already?"
"No, not quite yet, but Laojun just sent in Quinta, so it'll be over soon."
"Kufu, that's a relief, then."
"Yeah."
Jin pulled up a chair and fixed his gaze on the screen.
"Look at that—Lordtoss moved up another spot....Ah, he's finally leveraging his tight-turning advantage."
Reinhard chimed in with interest.
"Ah, so that really was based on your advice, Jin?"
"Well, yeah, though it was more of a hint than outright advice."
"Hmm, but can just shifting the cockpit's position really shrink the turning radius that much?" Reinhard asked. "I could understand if it only made ascending and descending easier."
"You're not wrong, Reinhard. But Lordtoss seems to be shifting the position of his balance weights alongside the cockpit."
"Eh? I didn't catch that at all." Reinhard scratched the back of his head.
"Well, that's understandable. When I say balance weight, it's not some obvious slab of ballast, but the structural spar supporting the circular wing."
"Wait, isn't that dangerous?" Hanna piped up, reacting to Jin's explanation.
"Haha, even you're worried, Hanna? But think about how the circular wing is actually being used here, and it makes sense."
"Umm... Ah, I get it! As long as it's only acting like a parachute to generate lift, it doesn't need all that much structural rigidity!"
"Bingo."
This was a straightforward circuit race.
Consequently, the primary duty of the main wing was simply to keep the craft aloft and level.
If it had been an aerobatic competition filled with violent ascents, steep dives, and rapid bank-and-yanks, wing rigidity would have been paramount.
For simple laps around a closed loop, however, a completely rigid wing wasn't necessary.
Thus, once the pace settled and the flight patterns became predictable in the middle laps, Lordtoss had triggered the mechanism.
By reducing his moment of inertia, he gained the ability to make far tighter, cleaner turns.
"To think he interpreted my hint like that."
It was a brilliant adaptation that earned even Jin's genuine admiration.