Magi Craft Meister

Chapter 720

21-31 At the Kingdom of Egelea

The Kingdom of Egelea had clearly been waiting for Jin’s arrival.

Two hot-air balloons guided him in from the sky, leading his flying ship to land in the Outer Palace Square.

Prince Earnest was already there, and the moment he saw Jin, he ran over with bright enthusiasm.

“Jin! It’s been so long! Elsa, Reinhardt—you all look well!”

“Your Highness, you seem well too.”

“Hello.”

“It has been a while.”

The greetings were light and informal—something only allowed because Earnest had not yet reached adulthood.

The new year had just begun, and next year he would turn fifteen and undertake his Coming-of-Age Ceremony.

(And after that… he’ll surely marry Princess Lieschen, Jin thought.)

＊ ＊ ＊

After the lively welcome, Jin and the others were taken to the king’s office.

“‘Lord of Kunlun’ Jin Nidou, it has been a while. And Lady Reiko looks as lovely as ever.”

The King of Egelea, Harold Luane Autocreys, greeted him with a smile, calling him by his newly granted title.

He also recognized Reiko as Jin’s official squire.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Mm. …Reinhardt Landoll, it has been some time. And this must be Lady Elsa Landoll. You look well.”

The king addressing them first was a sign of how highly he valued this visit.

The prime minister, Marquis Boyd Nors Garuelli, also offered a warm greeting.

Then he began the true purpose of the meeting.

“Lord of Kunlun, I believe you are aware that our investigation team has been dispatched to the former Leonard Kingdom?”

“Yes, I’ve heard.”

“They have been equipped with a newly developed magi-tool… Or should I say, a ‘recreation’ of an ancient one. We seek your opinion on it.”

Though Jin held only an honorary knighthood, he was now a landed noble, and the prime minister addressed him with appropriate respect.

The mention of magi-tools immediately caught Jin’s curiosity—Elsa and Reinhardt as well.

“The second matter is about ship transport capacity. The third concerns diplomacy—”

Since Reinhardt was present, diplomatic discussions were unavoidable.

Jin wished to remain neutral as the Lord of Kunlun, but neutrality was proving difficult.

The meeting began with Jin’s world map.

“As expected of Jin. Observations from the sky… remarkable.”

Just like in the Kingdom of Elias, everyone was stunned by the accuracy.

The placement of cities, river flows, coastlines, and borders were visible at a glance.

Though too large in scale for town-level detail, it was more than sufficient—no, overwhelmingly useful for national use.

The prime minister carefully accepted the map and bowed.

“We shall consider this gift—with all discussions included—as a matter of great gratitude.”

Jin accepted this arrangement.

Next: Ships and propulsion

They moved to the prime minister’s office.

“Our nation is preparing to build large ships for sea transport. We’re constructing a dedicated dock in Naalnekka. We also plan to create small river vessels.”

Naalnekka was the port where the Bernstein had been welcomed—a calm, sheltered bay ideal for shipbuilding.

“So, Jin, we would like to ask you for—”

“A propulsion system, correct?”

Jin finished the sentence for the hesitant prime minister.

“…Yes.”

Before anything else, Jin presented his own proposal.

“Before deciding that, there’s something I need to ask.”

“Go on.”

“The Naudalia River is wide, but the water is shallow, correct?”

The data came from the Fifth Unit Quintas, but Jin confirmed it anyway.

“Yes. The deepest points are only around five meters.”

That was all Jin needed to form the plan.

“Then let’s separate the design: river boats and ocean ships.”

“That is reasonable.”

“For river vessels, I recommend using poles, not engines.”

“Poles?”

“Yes, poles.”

Jin explained:

“The boatman holds a long pole—longer than the river depth—and pushes against the riverbed. The reaction moves the boat forward. Very simple.”

He demonstrated with a pushing motion.

The principle was easy enough that everyone understood instantly.

“With a golem acting as boatman, the boat can run even at night.”

“Indeed, this suits the river well.”

“Yes. In shallow and wide sections, use poles. In deeper parts, add a small propulsion unit.”

For small boats, he recommended the Aqua Thruster—a water-magic propeller.

“Hm. The river doesn’t grow much algae, and small boats can be cleaned easily. Makes sense.”

Understanding dawned on the prime minister.

Reinhardt explained the hulls

“Shallow-draft boats are widely used at Lake Tosmo in the Shouro Empire,” Reinhardt explained.

“Large ones can be 20 meters long, but the basic model is 10 meters—used to ferry people and goods.”

“Then starting with the basic type is safest.”

They continued discussing design, choosing a practical approach.

Logistics, ports, and international standards

“If we combine Jin’s propulsion with shallow-draft boats, we may need a separate dock,” the prime minister said.

He realized that shallow boats, while great for rivers, were unstable at sea.

A 4-meter racing craft could handle waves, but a 10-meter merchant boat—built with moderate materials—would not.

Transporting cargo by sea → transferring to river vessels at the Naudalia River mouth

was the most realistic plan.

“That means building a dock in Ocosso,” the prime minister concluded.

Ocosso sat near the river mouth, close to the Selroa border—destined to grow into a major port.

Jin added:

“If you formalize cargo transfer, you should also standardize cargo size. Containers, essentially.”

He then repeated what he had proposed to the Kingdom of Elias:

Coastal lighthouses

Standardized cargo containers

Signal flags and communication standards

Ship routes and harbor construction

A sea-rescue system

These ideas were received with the same astonished gratitude as before.

After clarifying the details, the ship discussions ended, followed by Jin’s duties as Shouro Empire Ambassador.

The day’s negotiations concluded smoothly.

＊ ＊ ＊

“Looks like the recreated magi-tool will be shown tomorrow…”

Jin relaxed in the guest mansion—the same place as during the Golem Party.

They were offered rooms in the royal palace, but Jin preferred something less formal.

“Still, Jin… I never thought of using poles. With golem strength, it’s perfect for quiet rivers.”

Jin and Reinhardt spoke while soaking in the bath.

“Reinhardt, you’re doing official work and don’t get paid extra—yet I’m the one receiving rewards. Sorry about that.”

“Haha, don’t worry. I’m here as part of my duty. You’re helping out of goodwill… and now you’re ‘Lord of Kunlun,’ an independent noble.”

Thanks to the assistance Jin had given in the Kingdom of Elias, he had received 5 million tolls as a reward.

Jin found that having “too much money to use” was a very unusual sort of problem.

But wasteful spending didn’t suit him either.

Later that night

“Father.”

Reiko waited as Jin exited the bath.

“Oh—Elsa.”

“Jin-nii.”

They met Elsa in the hallway, leaving the women’s bath.

They walked together, and Jin invited Elsa into his room.

“Mm.”

She entered quietly.

“Want something to drink?”

“Mm… citrus juice.”

They sat in Jin’s room, enjoying cold drinks after bathing.

“Hard to believe it’s been nearly a year. I didn’t think I’d get engaged to you back when we stayed here last.”

“Mm. Me neither.”

“Back then, I thought of you as… ‘a slightly worrying little sister.’”

Tonight Jin was unusually talkative.

He wasn’t wearing his detox artifact after the bath, so the wine he’d had with Reinhardt was now taking effect.

“…And now?”

Elsa’s cheeks flushed pink as she looked up at him.

“…Now you’re precious. Not just family. A precious woman.”

Elsa’s face turned scarlet.

She stood up, nearly knocking over the chair.

“…I’m going to sleep. Good night.”

She hurried out.

But she left one soft whisper behind—

“……Thank you.”