"What are these wards?"

Jin asked a further question.

"Due to the decrease in the concentration of free magical element (ether) about 300 years ago, many of the magi-machines were slowing down. The wards covering the town were also affected by this, but we were able to cope by bringing in generators from the surrounding towns."

"I see."

It was a simple idea that if the efficiency was reduced to one-third, then the number of magi-machines would be tripled.

"Such a move was made about 150 years ago. In this way, the population of Naminthe increased as the dwindling inhabitants moved out. As a result, the town of Naminthe seems to have been able to survive as long as it has."

"Yes?　?"

Jin questioned the ambiguity of the expression, even though it referred to a town right next door.

"Yes. The number of warding generators they brought with them is 9, and the number of towns they have moved into is also 9, and they have confined themselves to their towns and cut off all communication with the outside world.

Since the wards were strengthened by a factor of three, it seems that <> did not know any better.

"Perhaps, they didn't want to bring in diseases from the outside."

"......"

Jin has also read such as ...... where travelers from outside brought viruses etc. to such worlds and they perished.

"Yes, I see. ...... they chose their own path, it's not like people around them can say anything about it."

"Yeah, I guess so, Jin."

"......"

Saki and Erza seemed to agree with Jin.

"There are many forms of groups in which people live," said Goose.

Goose said.

Hannah is silent. As expected, she had yet to express her own opinion.

As for Jin, it is too much for him to deal with people's living space. He does not want to interfere too much.

He would be sorry if his uninvited visit resulted in the spread of germs that would be fatal to them.

Jin and the others decided to leave the town of Naminthe as it was.

"......So, now that we've accomplished what we set out to do, let's go home."

"Yes, that was the plan."

Palma will be managing the facility here for now. Of course, the transition markers are in place.

"I'll get back to you. I'll see what I can do.

"Yes, sir, my lord."

This is the best we can do with Goose.

I will stay there for the night. All the facilities inside were usable since <=> had been maintaining them for a long time.

There were 5 golems for maintenance, and not only but also regular maintenance of the facility was being done.

Therefore, they were able to use the bathrooms and relax.

I wonder if this is the same bath that Shuki took.

Imagining such a thought, I was deeply moved.

Although we had to use the food we had brought with us, the bedding was well-equipped, and for the first time in a long time, we were able to stretch out our limbs and sleep.

The next day, Jin and the others went to the hotel.

The next day, Jin and the others passed through the partially lifted wards and headed home.

"That was quite a worthwhile trip, wasn't it?"

Jin muttered with satisfaction in the car on the way home.

"Yes, it was interesting!

Hannah agreed. Indeed, Hannah may have gained the most from this trip.

"By the way, how should we choose our route?

Looking at the simplified map, Jin said to everyone.

"If we continue to go around Mt. Funisys, we should be able to snatch the northern edge of the Hariri Desert and enter the Shoro Kingdom.

In fact, there is a more detailed map observed by Air Force Golem and confirmed by <>, but I am using the one that shows the approximate topography.

"This would be better than going back to Huso from here and from Huso back to Mitsho."

If you go around the west side of Mount Zoycata, you will come to a village called Kehi. From there, a road leads to the village of Kehi, not far from the estate of Count Wolfgang Randall von Morgan, Reinhardt's father.

It is also close to Saki's grandfather, the Marquess Gehlen Theodoric von Eisen.

"I think that's the way to go. I think it makes sense to explore such a route.

Saki was the first to agree.

"Besides, that route should be close to the route that Goose's father might have taken, right?

"Saki has good intuition. "You've got good instincts, Saki. Yes, but not through the Hariri Desert.

Jin was giving off hints that it would be impossible to get there in this car.

"Jin, I'm sorry. I know it's presumptuous of me to say this, but I'd like to see the route my father might have taken.

Goose also said that he would not force me to go that way, but that he would like me to go that way.

"Okay, let's go back that way then.

It was decided.

We decided to camp that day at Nygo, just before Battaghtarf. We decided to camp at Nygo before Battaruf that day, because it would be too much trouble to go to Battaruf.

Since this was a town we had stopped at on our way out, and since we were sure that it was uninhabited and that there was no particular danger, we drove into the town.

"Reiko, are there any creatures here?"

Jin asks Reiko, wondering if any wild animals have entered the area.

"Yes, there seems to be almost no sign of such creatures, probably because there is no food.

There is no grass, so there are no small animals or insects. So there are no predators to hunt them.

"I see."

However, we still need to put up a barrier just in case.

After dinner, Jin looked up at the still-lit sky and checked the tent that Edgar and Aal had set up.

He saw a figure outside.

"Erza, what's wrong?　You seem to be in low spirits.

Jin noticed that Elsa had become even quieter than usual since Naminthe.

"......It's nothing."

"It's nothing. You have a fever, don't you?"

Jin put his hand on Elsa's forehead as he said this.

"Oh..."

"Well, I don't think you have a fever."

Erza smiled at Jin and said, "Brother Jin, you don't have a fever.

"Brother Jin, even if you don't feel well, I can heal myself.

"Well, that may be true, but if you are too sick, you may not even be able to activate the healing magic.

Elsa chuckled,

"Thank you for your concern. I'm not ...... that worried."

She whispered and began to explain.

"My brother Jin has realized once again that he has no family in this world, and he feels sorry ......."

She seemed to have been worried about what Bathes IX and Palma had said to her during the day.

Jin couldn't help but laugh, though it was typical of Erza.

"You're an idiot. Erza has been my family since she became my sister, right?　Or was I the only one who thought so?"

Elsa's face turned a little pale for a moment, and then her cheeks turned red.

"......Yes. I am already my brother Jin's family.

She replied happily and laid her head on Jin's shoulder.

Despite this incident, the trip home was generally smooth.

On the 27th, they camped again near the research center in Adriana, and on the 28th, they bypassed Mount Funicis and reached the northern edge of the Hariri Desert.

"Tomorrow we will be able to cross the border."

Jin declared in a sombre voice.

There is no clear line in this area, but he judged the line between the ridge of Mount Funisys and the northern edge of the Hariri Desert to be the approximate border.

On the 29th, we crossed the border and definitely entered the Shawlo Empire.

Our goal was Mount Zoycata.

It is about the same height as Mount Funicis, but its shape is rounder and sturdier.

We were following the contour lines, so there were no extreme ups and downs, and we were steadily gaining distance.

When we reached a point about 100 km northwest of the village of Kehi, we set up camp.

"We can reach the village of Kehi tomorrow.

"Well, I'm really starting to miss the countryside."

Saki's line was filled with a common sentiment.