Helios Orb Chronicle – Chapter 528

The prototype airship is complete, and the test flight in Alka has finished.

Primm and Flam were also able to ride it, and I received feedback from Ed, Raus, and the others. The stability has improved significantly since the prototype from a few months ago, and the crafters have given their approval that the equipment is problem-free.

Therefore, today we plan to conduct a test flight outside of Alka.

However, I don’t know how they heard about it, but Emperor Reinhardt, along with the Celestial Princesses and Mr. Rex, are waiting for us in their float.

“Your Majesty, is your duty alright?”

“Of course. Lain is not happy about it, but if airships become practical, distribution will change. There’s also the issue of cargo capacity, so the impact on existing transportation networks will be minimal. While we need to monitor the progress, I couldn’t understand what kind of airship it was until I actually rode one, so I managed to persuade him.”

I feel like he just wants to ride it, but his points are valid, so it’s hard to argue.

The problem of what to do if it crashes is solved by using scaffolding, so deaths from crashes are unlikely. Moreover, most of their Majesties have evolved into Ancient Class, so even if there’s a crash, they likely won’t suffer fatal injuries.

With the possibility of new distribution and transportation networks, it seems even the Prime Minister couldn’t stop him.

It feels somewhat sinister, and I’m worried about Ms. Raina’s stomach, so I feel like I should give her something nice sometime.

“Indeed, I’m looking forward to it.”

“Me too. I never imagined I’d be able to ride a flying ship. What about you, Ciel?”

“Me too. However, while I understand Mr. Lessheit being here, couldn’t you have omitted taking Princess Regina?”

“That’s true, but it would be sad to leave just one person behind.”

The Celestial Princesses were chatting excitedly, but Princess Maruca was holding Princess Regina, and Prince Lessheit was by Princess Elis’s side.

Princess Regina appears to be asleep, likely because she’s not even one year old yet, but Prince Lessheit looks incredibly happy.

“Yamato, I heard you’re going to Feel today. What’s next?”

“This is a test flight, so if there are no problems, I plan to bring it to the construction department and register it officially.”

This test flight is scheduled from Float to Feel.

The airship’s speed is not as fast as a Dragonian or Wyvern, reaching about 100 kilometers per hour.

Flying mounts like Wyverns average around 150 kilometers per hour, while fully transformed Dragonians average around 200 kilometers per hour. Eos, the fastest Dragonian, can reach speeds of about 300 kilometers per hour. While it’s significantly slower than them, it has the advantage of being able to fly as long as the magic stone’s power lasts, so I believe they can coexist.

Mounts are either familiars or summoned beasts. Since they require food expenses, only hunters, knights, and wealthy traders have contracts with them. Moreover, they cannot fly until their stamina runs out.

“If there are no problems, isn’t it okay to just outsource it now that the Crafter’s Guild can build prototypes?”

“We plan to commission the hull for a multi-functional beast carriage soon, so I want to prepare some data beforehand.”

We initially intended to build the airship hull that connects to the Tree-made Multi-functional Beast Carriage ourselves.

Fiana, who was instrumental in the production of the multi-functional beast carriage, is with us, so we believe the dimensions are not an issue. Ed and the others are also here.

Furthermore, this prototype was built entirely by us, with Ludia working diligently, and the Crafter’s Guild was not involved at all. We believed it was achievable, albeit time-consuming.

However, this would take away the work from the Crafter’s Guild, or rather, eliminate it. More importantly, their experience is vastly superior, so Mana and Hilde advised us to place an order.

Building a single airship likely requires a budget equivalent to several multi-functional beast carriages. Given its ship-like appearance, many crafters are experienced in its construction.

Including the interior, many crafters could receive orders, so we were told that it’s economically sensible to do so.

I thought I had to consider the economy too, but I didn’t realize it until it was pointed out to me, so I truly regret that.

Therefore, we plan to place an order for the airship hull production with the Crafter’s Guild, Feel branch. However, since an airship is a ship that flies, we can never have too detailed data.

The Crafter’s Guild will likely build a prototype, but if they have information beforehand, they can utilize it, which is another reason why it will be completed faster than if we built it.

“Is that another reason? But didn’t the multi-functional beast carriage you guys use store a hull? What about that?”

“That’s actually our dilemma.”

The question Emperor Reinhardt raised is something we haven’t reached a consensus on.

The hull stored in the Tree-made Multi-functional Beast Carriage is used as a ship, as the name suggests.

It’s not designed with cabins, as it’s meant to connect to the multi-functional beast carriage. However, we’ve only used it in the fourth level of the Krater Labyrinth so far. When acting as Heavenly Nobles, we have a separate Jade Silver ship completed for the Esmeralda Heavenly Noble House, so we use that.

But since the airship can also be used as a ship, once it’s completed, we won’t have any opportunities to use the ship made of Jade Silver.

So, that’s what we’re truly struggling with: what to do.

Melting it down for reuse is an option, but it feels wrong.

“The fact that the airship can also be used as a ship is precisely why the need for a separate hull is decreasing.”

“But it’s made of Jade Silver, so we can’t just dispose of it easily, nor is it something we should do.”

“Yes. So, once the airship is completed, we’ll store it in Alka for a while and perhaps re-purpose it as a ship for the Fleidranthia Heavenly Noble House or the Lapis Lazuli Heavenly Baronetcy. That seems to be the safest option.”

“That might be a good idea.”

“We haven’t decided where the Fleidranthia Baronetcy and the Lapis Lazuli Baronetcy will be located yet, so we can decide that later.”

As Princess Maruca and Princess Elis mentioned, the location of our territories is still undecided, so I think we can decide that later.

“That’s the plan. Well then, shall we get going soon?”

“Ah, yes.”

“We heard you’re going to Feel, so please take care of us.”

“We will.”

“Understood.”

We don’t need to decide what to do with the Jade Silver hull right now. For now, the airship takes priority.

Although there were no issues during the test flight, Alka is a type of enclosed space surrounded by a barrier, so this is our first use in an actual environment.

The barrier magic is constantly active, so we won’t be shivering in the cold even if we go out on deck, and it can withstand some wind and rain. Nevertheless, we can’t predict what might happen at high altitudes, so we need to remain vigilant.

***

Side: Maruca

Upon hearing about the airship prototype built by Yamato and his group, we, not necessarily the entire Celestial Emperor’s Family, but the six of us as a family, decided to board it.

My daughter Regina will be one year old next month, and Elis’s son, Rest, is already five years old. He’s been looking forward to this since yesterday, and he’s incredibly excited in the observation deck even now that we’ve departed.

“Brother Father! It’s amazing!”

“Yes, it is. This is an airship, a ship that can fly without being carried by a Dragonian. Your Uncle Yamato and his companions built it.”

“It’s amazing, Uncle!”

“Haha, thank you.”

Yamato wears a rather complex expression when Rest calls him “Uncle.”

I understand how he feels, but he has indeed become an uncle, so there’s nothing to be done about it.

“It’s already Memoria.”

“Ah, you’re right. It’s not as fast as a Dragonian, but it’s still much faster than a ship.”

“However, if this airship becomes widespread, won’t shipwrights be in trouble?”

“That should be fine. Ships have a significantly larger cargo capacity, and if we set the usage fees high, people will use ships unless they are in a hurry.”

“Also, if the routes are limited to the Federation Heavenly Empire and the Three Kingdoms, I don’t think they’ll conflict with ships.”

Ly and Yamato answer Ciel’s question.

While we can increase cargo capacity using a Mirror Room, there are still limits with airships.

Depending on the size of the Mirror Room, it’s not expected to carry beast carriages or familiar/summoned beasts. Even if it is, in case of an emergency, it would be at your own risk. Furthermore, if it only operates between the Federation Heavenly Empire and the Three Kingdoms, you’ll need to arrange beast carriages or mounts at your destination, otherwise, it will affect your business.

This is different if you have Mirror Bags or Storage Bags, but those are quite expensive, and both have capacity limits. If you want to store beast carriages or the like, you’ll have to buy them separately.

In that case, even if it takes more time, using ships as before would be cheaper.

“You’ve thought of many things.”

“I have to think about them, considering my position. Well, I’m still not used to it, so I often overlook things.”

It’s only been a little over a year since I was conferred the title of Heavenly Noble.

This simply requires experience and practice, so I can only say, “Do your best.”

“Ah, I can see the General Academy.”

“You’re right. Seen from above like this, it’s quite large.”

“It’s on the scale of a village… no, a town.”

“That’s because there’s a Guild outpost. However, I heard that the monster hunt conducted previously wasn’t very successful?”

Ah, yes. About a month ago, we conducted our first monster hunt by recruiting volunteers.

However, reports indicated that there was a Goblin settlement deep in the forest where the hunting grounds were located, and it contained not only Catastrophe Species but also An.

Therefore, the hunt was limited to the outskirts of the forest, but some aspiring hunters around level 30, who had prejudices against Raus, attacked the settlement, and it almost turned into a major disaster.

Fortunately, not only Raus but also Rebecca and Carol were in the forest, and Yamato’s Wing Crest was on standby, so it didn’t escalate into a serious incident. But what if it hadn’t been for them?

Those aspiring hunters were fined, and I heard that they were quite subdued after being astonished by Raus, who instantly annihilated the Goblin Queen right before their eyes.

“As Princess Maruca says. Therefore, we’ve decided to regularly request hunters to thin out the goblins in the western forest to prevent them from forming large settlements. Even so, it’s not absolute, but being too overprotective would only cause problems.”

“Indeed. Even as students, they aspire to be hunters, so they will live their lives facing danger. If they don’t get used to it from their student days, they won’t even be able to survive, let alone become great hunters.”

Right.

Ah, it’s already out of sight.

It’s good that it’s fast, but I feel a bit disappointed that I can’t enjoy the scenery slowly.

“Ah, and regarding Raus, the Polaris Beast Duke has also given his approval. Therefore, very soon, the engagement between Raus and Princess Aurora will be announced.”

“Ah, so it’s decided. Does that mean she will eventually become his primary wife?”

“That’s right. Well, Raus himself seems to have accepted it, so you can rest assured about Flugel.”

I spoke with him directly the other day, and he had an expression as if he had come to terms with something.

Although the actual marriage will take place after graduation, Princess Aurora will inherit the title of Beast Duke, making it difficult for her to be the primary wife. Given her personality, I don’t think she could do it.

Princess Seras, daughter of the Grand Duke Lichtenfels, is also among Raus’s fiancées. However, since Grand Dukes and Beast Dukes are of equal rank as the Three Dukes, and Princess Aurora will not be the primary wife, it’s difficult for Princess Seras to maintain balance.

Reina’s engagement was at a different time, and above all, she’s the youngest, so she’s out of the running.

Ideally, Rebecca, who got engaged first, should be the primary wife. However, like Princess Aurora, she dislikes troublesome situations and her personality doesn’t suit it, so it’s decided that Carol will be Raus’s primary wife.

Carol is the daughter of Count Bernstein, who holds territory in northern Amister. Above all, she is the oldest and most composed, so even Ly approved.

“Also, the day after tomorrow, I will be entering the Krater Labyrinth with Princess Brynhild.”

“I’ve heard. It’s to help her evolve into a High Vampire, isn’t it?”

“Yes. It seems the people of Torencia are also uneasy about a Normal Vampire succeeding the Ancient Vampire lineage.”

“It’s an unavoidable situation. Rest will likely face a similar problem, so he’ll probably need to evolve into something like High Class.”

If the next king after the Ancient Class is of Normal Class, we’ll have to be mindful of assassinations.

While that’s normal, the value of evolving just to make assassination more difficult is there. And with the expectations placed on Rest to become the next Celestial Emperor after Ly, he might disappoint if he remains Normal Class.

Therefore, Rest will also need to evolve into a High Elf before his enthronement.

Well, since we have evolved into Ancient Class, I think we can assist with leveling up as tutors or something similar for a few generations.

When Ly abdicates, we plan to live a leisurely life. However, that doesn’t mean we want the Federation Heavenly Empire to split or perish.

What we’ll actually do will depend on the situation, but I think it’s worth considering.

For now, though, let’s enjoy our sky journey.