After dinner, Jin and Elsa spent a little time relaxing.
"Let's head back tomorrow. I'm also curious to see how the construction projects in the Kingdom of Franz and the Shouro Empire are coming along."
"Yeah."
Jin noted that being able to accomplish so much was all thanks to everyone's support.
"I'm truly grateful."
"Mm, the feeling is mutual."
To Elsa, Jin's support was just as invaluable.
Later, at eight in the evening.
Jin visited the Go-lab to let Eira and the others know they would be leaving the next day.
"I see. We're gonna miss you."
"Thank you so much for everything."
"Please come visit again, okay?"
Those were the parting words from Eira, Groma, and Kachea, respectively.
"Yeah. I might visit the Pandor Continent sometime soon. When that happens, I'll drop by to invite you along."
Jin added that since they might show him around, he could submit an official request through Avalon.
"I think I'll pass. You should take Kachea instead."
"I'll pass as well."
"Is that so?"
And with that...
"H-Huh? Jin-san, you're going to the Pandor Continent? And I'd be your guide? Would that really be all right...?"
"Why wouldn't it be? If you're worried about it, you can just take some time off."
"I'll do that, then..."
Earnest to a fault, Kachea seemed to feel a twinge of guilt about returning home through personal connections.
After chatting a bit longer, Jin returned to the living quarters where Elsa was waiting.
It was a peaceful night, the wind calm and the waves still.
The morning of April 13 arrived.
This morning, Jin and Elsa were having breakfast at their usual dining hall without Fione Fias.
"Well then, we're heading home today, but..."
"Mm."
"Is there anything left you still want to do?"
Having finished his tea and caught his breath, Jin turned to Elsa.
"Not particularly, but... I'd like to visit the World Security Guard."
"...Ah, I see. I'll go with you."
Sensing Elsa's purpose, Jin offered to accompany her.
"Mm, thank you....What about you, Jin-nii?"
Do you have anything left you wanted to do? Elsa's expression seemed to ask.
"Yeah, I'll talk about that when I meet Tomax-san."
"Got it."
Since they had visited the World Security Guard dining hall the other day, they knew the way well. Jin, Elsa, and Reiko walked side by side toward the facility.
They stopped by the airfield first to bring Hope along as well. Jin felt it was only right for everyone who had made this trip to go together.
Their destination was just behind the World Security Guard headquarters.
Standing there was a chalk-white mausoleum, where those who had once served in the World Security Guard were enshrined.
Jin and Elsa bought a bouquet from the flower shop beside the entrance.
From there, they stepped inside.
The flower-adorned entryway was merely the threshold; a staircase led deep underground.
Descending to a depth roughly three floors down, they entered a vast hall.
Enshrined within were successive generations of World Security Guard members.
Their names and ages at the time of their passing were engraved into the marble walls. Should this level ever fill up, it would likely be expanded farther downward.
"...Here."
Elsa found the spot she was looking for almost immediately.
Engraved upon the wall was: "Fritz Allstatt, formerly Randol von Grosch. Passed away Year 3530, aged 98." And right beneath it:
"Gloria Allstatt. Passed away Year 3531, aged 97."
Directly below those inscriptions, Jin and Elsa laid down their bouquet and offered a silent prayer. Reiko and Hope followed suit.
After roughly two minutes of quiet reflection, Jin and Elsa looked up.
"Jin-nii, thank you."
"No, don't mention it. After all, he's my brother-in-law too."
"...Their graves are in our homeland, but I still wanted to pay my respects here."
"I understand."
Being Japanese, Jin viewed the site as something akin to a family grave and a Buddhist altar.
In other words, this place was essentially a massive altar, and the marble wall served as the memorial tablets.
"Brother-in-law Fritz... in the end, he rose all the way to 1st Division commander of the World Security Guard, huh."
"Mm. He was famous as the Demon Division Commander."
Naturally, the current Jin had no knowledge of such distant history, so hearing it from Elsa was the first he had learned of it.
"And Gloria-san?"
"After becoming the 1st female ritter commander, she retired at age forty-five."
"I see."
"They had two sons and two daughters, and lived a long, fulfilling life... I think."
"They must have been happy, then."
"I hope... they were."
Offering one final silent prayer, the group took their leave.
At 9:30 AM, Jin and the others were in Tomax Bartman's office.
"Jin-dono, Elsa-dono, thank you both so much for these past two days."
Tomax Bartman bowed respectfully.
"Are you departing already, then?"
"That was the plan, but there was one thing that crossed my mind."
"What might that be?"
"I was thinking it might be a good idea to build a research wind tunnel for the Aviation Research Lab... or rather, for the academy as a whole."
"A wind tunnel?"
"Yes. A wind tunnel is..."
Jin explained the concept to Tomax Bartman. Even if Tomax did not fully grasp the mechanics, it was no problem—Manon was listening intently beside him.
"...There are plans to build them in the Kingdom of Franz and the Klein Kingdom as well."
"I see. So it would be useful not only for aircraft, but for automobile development as well."
Jin added that the technology could also be applied to golems and ships.
"It can be used for wind-resistance testing, you see."
He went on to explain that scale models could even be used to test the wind resistance of architectural structures.
"I see. That does sound remarkably useful."
"I'll send over a design base later on."
"We would be most grateful."
With that promise settled, Jin and his companions took their leave of the office.