Jin begins to explain the situation in front of everyone who has moved to the plaza in front of the palace. His assistant was Elsa.

"Let me briefly explain the structure. First of all, it is an air sac. It can be made of any light, strong, heat-resistant cloth, but this one is made of sandworm leather.

The sandworm is a demon native to the Shoro Empire and lives in the western Harihari Desert. The leather is tough enough to withstand Reiko's blows.

"I see, it is a material that can be found in our country..."

Degauss, the Minister of Magical Technology, nods his head in agreement. Jin's airship was made of a rare material called ground spider silk, which could not be easily imitated.

"From there, an oval gondola is suspended by ropes. That's all for the structure, now let's see how to use it.

Jin pointed to the magic tool attached under the air sac.

"It has the effect of engineering magic <>. It is powered by a magic stone of the fire system. All you have to do is to move this lever.

Raising the lever attached to the heating device heats the air, and lowering it stops the heating. By adjusting the lever to the appropriate position, the altitude can be maintained at a certain level.

I see, heated air becomes lighter. I just learned this from my instructor (Fuhrer) the other day.

The Fuhrer seems to be passing on the knowledge as smoothly as Jin had hoped.

"Just to be safe, it would be nice to have someone on board who can use <> magic. This is an engineering magic as well as an elementary magic of the fire attribute, so there are probably quite a few people who can use it.

"Yes, that's right. I would say that at least one out of three mages can use it.

DeGauss assures him.

"And this is the propulsion system of this hot air balloon, <>.

The airship had been called a <>, but now it had an official name.

"It utilizes <> and obtains propulsive force by squeezing the wind in this way."

As Jin verified long ago, normal wind magic has the ability to counteract recoil.

However, once the wind is passed through a tube and the wind speed is increased by narrowing the flow path, that is, by making the tube narrower and thinner, recoil is generated to compensate for the increased wind speed.

This allows the ball to achieve up to three times the speed of the Unified Party's (Unifiler) hot air balloons, which were mainly left up to the wind.

"With a tailwind and the wind thrusters, it could reach a speed of more than 50 kilometers per hour. In no wind, it would be about 30 kilometers per hour.

"Well, that's fast enough. It will be efficient since it will be flying through the unobstructed sky.

Yes. But if it's too windy, it's dangerous to overdo it.

I understand that. I'll be careful.

I have also prepared an arrow with a rope attached for emergency use. I'll use it as an anchor by shooting it into the ground with my bow.

"I see, like an anchor on a ship."

After explaining the detailed operation and other precautions, Jin asked the participants to actually fly the boat.

The Prime Minister, Jung Forss, and the Minister of Magical Technology, Degauze, are on board. Jin, Reiko, and Erza follow in the other car.

Again, the emperor wanted to get on, but was admonished by the prime minister, the minister of magical technology, and the captain of the Kingsguard, so he reluctantly stayed on the ground.

"Then please lift the lever all the way up.

Jin activated the heating device of the hot-air balloon they were riding in. DeGauss followed his lead and pushed up the lever.

Heating begins immediately, and the heated air accumulates in the air sacs due to the magic contained in their magic tools.

The air sacs expand.

The rounded air sacs slowly float up. The gondola shakes, and the ropes connected to it tighten.

More heat was pumped into the gondola. The lightened air sacs finally lifted the gondola, and the hot air balloon left the ground.

We're floating!　Oh, how I wish I could have ridden ...... away!

The emperor looked at the hot-air balloon with regret.

"Your Majesty, please consider your position. ......"

The captain of the Kingsguard sounded a little tired.

I really want to ride on it!

"I really want to go for a ride!　Just like this!"

When the Prime Minister and the Minister of Magic and Technology came back to the ground after they had learned how to handle the hot air balloon, the emperor looked at all the people there and said, "You know, the last time we had an airship......

"The last time you took us on an airship, we only floated a meter or so and that was it, wasn't it?　This time I want to fly."

"Your Majesty, ......"

The Prime Minister and the Minister of Magic and Technology, who had just returned from a trip in the sky, could understand the feelings of the female emperor.

"......"

And after much deliberation, they came to a conclusion.

"Your Majesty, then I think we can avoid a lot of danger by tying the two hot air balloons together with a rope.

He thought that if one of the balloons was about to crash, the other would support it and slow the speed of its fall.

"In order to make it as light as possible, we put Jin-dono, His Majesty, and Reiko, an automata, on one side. On the other side, let's put Degas on board.

This was the Prime Minister's best concession.

"Ah, that's fine. We can finally fly!

"Remember, don't get too excited. Sir Jin Nido, take good care of His Majesty.

Yes, sir.

Jin Nidoo gets in first and offers his hand to the queen. The Empress was delighted to be pulled into the gondola by Jin's hand. Reiko gets in and closes and locks the door.

"Now, let's go."

Jin signaled to Degauze, the minister of magical technology next to him, and pushed the heating lever fully up.

The two hot air balloons inflated in the same way.

Jin also ordered Reiko to apply auxiliary heating. The reason is that Jin's balloon is heavier than the other one. Reiko assists them with magic.

Soon the balloons left the ground.

"It flew!　It flew!

The emperor is excited like a child.

The balloon rises slowly. At an altitude of about 30 meters, Jin slowed his ascent and activated the wind thrusters.

"Wow, it's moving!

The two hot air balloons move toward Lake Tosmo. The altitude is slowly increasing, now about 50 meters.

"Because of the way it works, it's a little difficult to stay at a certain altitude.

Jin briefly explains the trick to operating the balloon.

"I see. When it rises too high, we turn the heat down and then turn it up again when it drops again.

The lush green waters of Lake Tosmo are visible in the distance. The flight was stable, and Jin left the control of the plane to Reiko.

"Reiko, please stay with me for a while."

"Yes, father."

Jin sensed that the Empress wanted to talk to him.

"Thank you, Jin. Ah, my wish has come true at last. The earth is so big. ......"

Looking down at the country from the sky, the emperor thanked Jin in a deep voice.

"......After this, you will give the same gift to the kingdoms of Egelea and Klein, right?"

"Yes, that's my intention."

"I know, but I'm a little disappointed. I know, but I'm a little disappointed because I don't think that it would be better if it were only for our country.

Sensing that Jin was about to say something at that remark, the emperor immediately denies what he said before.

"No, you shouldn't say that. Now is the time for all nations to join hands against the demon tribe.

"...... yeah."

"We barely managed to win the war of wizardry, but it was a draw. I wonder what's going to happen ...... this time.

If we can figure out what the purpose of the demon tribe is, I think we might be able to reconcile with them.

Jin gives his opinion to the slightly anxious Empress.

"Yes, we are all living on the same land, aren't we? But that's a personal opinion. As emperor, you have a duty to protect your people. At the very least, in the event of war, we should be prepared to minimize the damage as much as possible.

Jin shared this sentiment. He believes that the numerous facilities on Horai Island are not for offensive purposes, but for defensive ones.

The two hot air balloons arrived over Lake Tosmo without talking for a while.

There is almost no wind on this day, so the current speed is about 25 km/h. It is almost time for Jin to return. It was about time for Jin to return, so he reversed the direction of travel.

"Oh, you're leaving already?　I would have liked to fly longer, but I guess I have no choice.

"Yes, you'll have to put up with this for today."

In the other balloon, connected by a rope, DeGauss, the Minister of Magic and Technology, looked relieved.

"...... Hey, Jin. Are you going to get married?"

The emperor suddenly asked.

"What?　Yes, yes. Not at the moment."

Caught off guard, Jin replies with some dismay.

"What about Elsa?　Nothing with her?

"No, nothing!"

Jin denies it with all his might. Seeing Jin like this, the emperor tilted his head.

"Really?　I think she's a good girl. ......"

"Erza is my sister."

But the emperor's pursuit did not stop.

"She's my sister, but we're not blood related. Do you love someone in another country by any chance?"

"......Why would you say that?　I don't have any ......."

"No, Jin-kun, if you're going to stay in Shoro, I think it would be best if you got together with a girl from Shoro. ......"

"......Please give me a break. ......"

Jin declines, saying that he understands the feeling, but he doesn't want to be approached with such a proposal.

"But you know, Jin, at your age, it's not surprising that you have a wife. It's not like you're not interested in girls, right?

The emperor's pursuit of Jin grew more insistent.

"To be honest, I don't have that kind of desire.

Jin told the truth.