Kehi village is the northernmost village of the Shoro Kingdom, along with Tehadaki village on the opposite side of Mt.

Latitudinally, it is close to Kaina village, but its inland location makes the climate more arid.

"The wheat is beginning to grow.

It is almost the end of April, and the season will soon turn into early summer. Lush ears of barley are poking through the sky.

"Ah, spring is already on its way, isn't it?

These were the words that came out of Jin's mouth.

Perhaps he was a bit sentimental after a month-long trip.

We decided to stay the night in the village of Kehi.

However, there is no inn in the village, so I talked to the village chief and stayed at his house.

Jin is a <, and Erza is a < female baroness, but they do not identify themselves as such. They only said they were returning from a research trip.

"No, no, it is very unusual to have a guest in such a remote village.

"What kind of people do you have?"

Jin asked, intrigued by the mayor's words.

"People who claim to be alchemists come here every once in a while," he said.

......Maybe my father came too.

"Oh?　What is your father's name, young lady?

The village head heard Saki's murmur and asked her,

"His name is Toa.

Saki answered.

"I remember you, Mr. Toa, about a year ago, I think, when you said you were going to survey the Kruger Mountains.

It seemed that Saki's father, Toa, had been here before.

"My father came to ....... I see. Did he say anything else?

The chief thought for a moment,

"Yes. ...... I heard that you are looking for your missing friend."

As far as Saki knew, the only friend of Toa's father who was missing was Goose's father, Mark.

Saki wondered how her father felt about Mark, who must have been an invaluable friend to Toa.

Goose remained silent, as if thinking about something.

The chief did not know anything more, so he changed the subject.

"Do alchemists often come to this village?"

"No, there are only one or two a year.

Most of them come here as a foothold for research in the Kruger Mountains or the Hariri Desert.

"I see."

I have heard that the Kruger Mountains are rich in metal resources.

Saki seemed to know a lot about the area since she had heard about it from her father, Thor.

"And I've also heard that rare minerals are sometimes found in the Hariri Desert.

"You know a lot, don't you? Yes, we have some such minerals at home. They were given to us by an alchemist who used to stay with us. Would you like to see them?

Saki was intrigued by the mayor's words.

"Yes, please!

The village headman retreated to a back room and came back immediately with a medium-sized box.

"This is it.

"Oh!"

"This is ......!

"About 40 years ago, my father was given this by an alchemist who was visiting at the time."

It was a rose-like stone made of sand.

"The Desert Rose: ......"

"He called it a rose made of sand.

"...... Mysterious stone."

"I didn't know such a shape could be created naturally. ......"

"Roses turned to stone?"

"Wow, interesting stone!"

While everyone was admiring the stone, Jin had seen one in his high school science lab.

<, it is actually crystals of calcium sulfate, or (sometimes it is also , but most of the time it is gypsum. This baryte is a sulfate mineral composed mainly of barium).

On Earth, the Sahara Desert is a famous source.

Anyway, Jin had seen it once before, and although he was not as impressed as the others, the first sighting had a great impact on him, he remembered those days and felt a little nostalgic.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

The next morning, Jin gave the chief a gratuity and left the village of Kehi by car.

"Oh, it's May today, isn't it?

The season had changed, and it was May with the winds of early summer. The temperature seemed to have risen even more since we were moving south.

"I'd like to get into Count Randall's territory by the end of the day, even if I have to push a little harder."

We decided that the road surface was better prepared than the roadless road we had been on so far, and that we could increase our speed.

The road to Banne is about 250 kilometers away. At 25 kilometers per hour for 10 hours, we might be able to make it.

"Father, why don't you call already?"

"Oh, I see. ......"

There is no problem for Jin, the Shoro Imperial Prince, to ride on the Konlon 2. If there is, it is to explain to Goose.

The ship is now moored on the rooftop of Reuthert's house, so it should not take more than two hours to get here.

(You might want to contact him somehow on the way and have him come and pick you up.)

They say that one more thing to hide would not make any difference now. It's a bit of an open statement, to say the least.

"Is that OK with you? ...... Okay, Reiko, let's do that."

"Yes!"

Reiko first contacted the old man with the built-in manacam and left the details to him.

She would confide in him about Goose later on, after she had carefully considered whether or not he would be allowed to join the .

With that decided, Jin slowed down the car.

< and the would know where Jin and the others were, there was no need for them to stay still, so he didn't do anything to stop them.

"Father, they are here."

About two hours later, Reiko announced the approach of Conlon 2.

"Okay, let's stop the car."

We were just on an empty plain between villages, so it was convenient.

"Jin, what's this Conlon 2 you've been talking about?"

Goose asked.

"Seeing is believing.

Jin points to the sky. Conlon 2 is descending.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!　What the hell is that!

The cry is either one of surprise or fear.

Conlon 2 lands, leaving Goose in a state of surprise and panic.

"Thank you, Lily, Rose."

Lily and Rose of the new and improved covert task force (SP) appear at the door. A steward came down.

"Come on, Goose, let's go."

Saki urges Goose, who is frozen in surprise.

Jin and the others, including Edgar and Aal, go to Conlon 2. Steward takes the car in exchange.

The plan is to continue the trip to Leuthart's house.

However, there is a possibility that we may have to go through Horai Island once on the way.

All the luggage was reloaded, and Conlon 2 started off.

"Wow, it's flying!

"Of course it's flying. It's made to fly!"

Saki kept quiet the whole time as Goose was amazed.