On January 16 at 10:00 AM, in Loizart, the royal capital of the Shouro Empire, the crews piloting the Royal Palace security Blow Floaters were unable to conceal their nervousness.
An "extra-large" Blow Floater was scheduled to arrive at any moment.
Its landing zone was the airfield in the palace's inner courtyard.
Granting permission to land directly within the palace grounds right from the start was a clear testament to the Shouro Empire's trust in Jin.
"Hey, can you believe this?"
"Yeah... even if he is a Magi Craft Meister, it's hard to swallow."
"A Blow Floater that measures fifty meters on each side, you know?"
"Still, think about it. When we first got on the Blow Floaters we're flying now, didn't we all think, There's no way something like this can actually fly?"
"True enough. In that sense, writing it off as impossible is just shutting down your brain, huh?"
Such was the banter among the security knights stationed on the ground.
"Hey, did you hear? Apparently 'something completely outrageous' is arriving today!"
"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?"
"I'm telling you, 'something completely outrageous'!"
"That doesn't explain anything!"
Meanwhile, the lady's maids working in the Royal Palace were excitedly trading rumors.
Up on the palace rooftop, Jin, Elsa, Reiko, and Hope stood alongside Emperor Ernst II of the Shouro Empire, the Chancellor, and the Magic Technology Minister, gazing out into the eastern sky.
"Ah, it has arrived."
Reiko, blessed with keen eyesight, pointed toward a single point in the sky.
"Yes, it is approaching," Hope agreed with a nod.
Jin could not see it yet, nor could Ernst II, the Chancellor, or the Magic Technology Minister.
A full minute after Reiko first spotted it, Eagle 1 finally came into view for Jin and the others as a tiny black dot.
The craft grew steadily larger as it drew near.
"Ohh."
As it approached, its silhouette became clearly defined.
"It is massive."
And its sheer scale became unmistakable.
In terms of pure size, Deus Ex Machina's personal craft, the 100-meter airship Aristotle, was larger. However, many present understood the difference between a lighter-than-air airship and a Blow Floater, making the existence of a Blow Floater of that magnitude an absolute marvel.
(I wonder if people seeing a four-engine heavy bomber for the first time felt something like this,) Jin mused.
While Jin was lost in thought, Eagle 1 drew ever closer.
"Oohhh!"
"Magnificent..."
"Just how do they maintain structural integrity at that size...?"
The Emperor, the Chancellor, and the Magic Technology Minister each gave voice to their astonishment.
Closer and closer Eagle 1 flew.
"I-Incredible!"
The spectators on the ground could now clearly see its imposing figure.
"I-It's so huge that even the wind from it is intense!"
As the craft descended, a powerful gust began to blow across the grounds, though not quite a full downwash.
Thanks to advance notices, smaller aircraft like hot air balloons and Blow Floaters had been strictly barred from entering a 200-meter radius.
The citizens of Loizart were also looking on in awe at the magnificent sight.
"What in the world is that...? Did human hands actually build that thing...?"
"Whoa, incredible. Human craft can really accomplish something like that...?"
"It's gigantic..."
"I heard the Magi Craft Meister made it."
"That Magi Craft Meister is insane, huh? He can build literally anything..."
"I wonder if I could make something like that if I tried hard enough."
"Flying through the sky must feel amazing."
Eagle 1 made a quiet, smooth touchdown onto the airfield in the palace courtyard.
However, the landing kicked up an enormous cloud of dust, blinding everyone in the vicinity for a short time.
"We really ought to pave the entire area with asphalt..."
"Y-Yeah."
When Jin remarked on it, Ernst II readily agreed.
"To think it would kick up this much dust..."
The Magic Technology Minister looked equally dumbfounded.
After about three minutes, the dust finally settled, revealing the immaculate, pure-white hull without a single speck of dirt clinging to it.
"Ohh!"
"That is Eagle 1. It can transport approximately ten tons of cargo....Hope, please instruct Daidara 1 to step outside for a moment."
"Yes, Master."
Officially, all communications were supposed to be relayed through the manaphone aboard Hurricane, so Jin and his companions maintained that protocol.
Incidentally, Hurricane had been temporarily moved to the palace rooftop for that very purpose.
A minute after Hope entered Hurricane, Eagle 1's cargo bay doors parted, and the 15-meter giant golem Daidara stepped into view.
"Oh! So that is the giant golem Jin-dono created!"
"Its movements are so fluid that you forget how massive it is. Truly hard to believe."
The Chancellor marveled at its size, while the Magic Technology Minister admired its graceful motion. Meanwhile, Ernst II observed:
"Hmm. While our empire's giant golem may be larger, I do not feel as though we could best Jin-dono's golem," analyzing it from a military perspective.
"Your Majesty, that Daidara is intended for civil engineering work, so its combat capabilities are quite low," Jin explained.
Even so, sheer size and power inherently posed a threat in any era.
"Just like the Predecessor, I have no interest in domination or power, you see," Jin added.
While "Predecessor" meant Adriana Barbora Tsetse to Jin, to the Emperor and ministers, it likely brought to mind the "Second Generation"—in other words, the original version of Jin himself.
In any case, as long as they understood that Jin had no ambitions for power, that was all that mattered.
Those watching Daidara from the palace windows were equally awestruck.
"Eek! What is that massive thing?!"
"It's not going to attack us, is it?"
The lady's maids shrank back in slight fear, while the government officials exchanged their own impressions:
"Good grief, that is simply extraordinary."
"It seems the current Magi Craft Meister is once again someone beyond the realm of common sense."
"Indeed. With individuals like that, staying on their good side is the only sensible choice."
After showing off Daidara, stowing it back inside the bay, and bringing Eagle 1 to a complete stop, Jin found himself in Emperor Ernst II's private office.
"Ah, Jin-dono, I am utterly filled with admiration."
The Magic Technology Minister stepped forward to offer a handshake.
"Once again, I feel compelled to thank the heavens for the sheer blessing of having you cooperate with our empire, Jin-dono."
"Indeed, quite right. With a massive frame like that, the construction work will surely make swift progress."
Hearing their praise, Jin made sure to clarify:
"Keep in mind, it will only handle the ground-leveling and foundation work."
"No, even that is more than enough. It will drastically shorten our construction schedule."
With that settled, the group proceeded to confirm the final details of the plan together.