**Side Flam**
It has been one month since Prim gave birth to Tsubaki, and I gave birth to Mizuki.
I had an easy delivery, so my recovery has been excellent, but Prim has days where she feels unwell, which worries me greatly.
Prim’s recovery is also not bad, but it was such a difficult birth that it’s said either mother or child would have died even with a High Class birth, let alone a Normal Class one. Mako and Sir Yuri mentioned that we cannot let our guard down until the postpartum period ends.
The postpartum period is said to be an average of two months, but Prim is taking precautions and expecting it to last about three months. Until then, I am prohibited from hunting.
I couldn’t hunt during my pregnancy, and I’m concerned about the long break. Simple hunts are permitted as rehabilitation, but it’s not something I can do casually, as it requires at least two escorts. I feel the same way about this.
In the meantime, today, accompanied by Yamato, I have come to Amagi Castle.
The reason is my ennoblement.
Sir Yuri’s Esmeralda Baronetcy has only the town of Prada, which was formerly my home village, besides the capital city of Feel. Nevertheless, administrators are necessary.
Prada was originally the village where I was born and raised, so it is through this connection that talks progressed for me to become an administrator as a baron.
I don’t feel there’s any particular necessity for it to be me, and I still feel that way, but the fact that I am the only archer of Ancient Class, and being an Ancient **Undine**, makes me capable of fully demonstrating my power even in a location sandwiched between the Nadal Sea and Veil Lake, has been taken into consideration.
“So, Flam is a baron now too.”
“Even if you say that, I don’t feel it yet?”
“I felt the same way.”
After the ennoblement ceremony in the Audience Chamber, Yamato and I were invited to the living room in the Celestial Emperor’s Family’s private space.
At the ennoblement ceremony earlier, I was granted a new family name and am now Baron Flam Mikami Florlagna.
Yamato, my husband, was granted the noble title of Fraydlancia Baronet. This was also a sudden event.
Although we are scheduled to be granted territory in the future, it was a sudden development, so for now, we are acting as administrators for the Esmeralda Baronetcy and the Marquisate of Amatista, and I am also assisting Lady Hilde, who recently became the Solemn Controller.
Mana-sama is in a similar position, but since Mana-sama is prioritizing childcare, Yamato’s burden has increased.
Therefore, I couldn’t refuse this ennoblement and appointment as administrator.
“In reality, the official appointment as administrator is in two years. Until then, it’s training, but you can prioritize childcare.”
Originally, after this, I would have traveled to Feel to pay my respects to Sir Yuri and then diligently worked as the administrator of Prada. However, I have just given birth to Mizuki, and more importantly, I have absolutely no knowledge or experience as an administrator. Therefore, for about two years, I will be studying under Baron Verano, a modern administrator.
Baron Verano was originally supposed to serve as an administrator in a different location, but my pregnancy caused his plans to change, and he was dispatched to Prada. I feel a little sorry about that, but personally, especially with Mizuki, this arrangement is very welcome.
“Thank you.”
“No, it’s as if we pushed you into this ennoblement. Besides, you’ve just given birth, so we’ll consider that.”
“But it helps. Pradas is constantly receiving merchant ships right now, so just the development is overwhelming.”
“I’ve heard about that, and I’ve been there once. I was glad we had a barrier, even if it was on the smallest scale.”
“I agree.”
I absolutely agree with that.
The barrier the Emperor speaks of is the ritual magic, Protect Fielding.
This is a barrier that repels monsters with malicious intent, but its drawback is that even at its smallest, it has a diameter of 10 kilometers, making it difficult to use for small towns and villages.
It is also said that while it can defend against An, it cannot defend against Catastrophe Species or Demise Species.
Prada was originally a small fishing village surrounded by forests and lakes, so it had no barrier. However, when Sir Yuri became the Esmeralda Baronet and was granted the Mylight Mountains area, development progressed and a port was built.
Since Prada is the only place in Amister facing the Nadal Sea, there were many voices wishing for a port, and now that it has been realized, it has become a vital transportation hub. As this was anticipated, Prada is being developed to fit within the minimum range of the barrier. This is also to prevent the barrier from extending to the other side of the bay, which would increase the risk of delayed response in case of an incident.
Currently, not only Orc An, but also many Catastrophe Species have appeared, and indeed, they have appeared several times.
“Regarding Prada, we will be expanding the docks soon. Ships from Febro Rehkistres have also started arriving, and Torencia is considering a sea route as well.”
“Febro Rehkistres, perhaps, but Torencia too? No, Amister and Torencia have only had air travel between them, so having a sea route would be beneficial.”
“Yes. The plan has been in progress for some time, but I heard it will move forward in earnest with the enthronement of Her Majesty Brynhild.”
“Ah, so you delayed the plan to make it Hilde’s achievement.”
This was the first time I heard of it, but I understood after listening to Yamato and His Majesty.
Amister and Torencia are considered to be among the most friendly nations, but travel between them has only been possible by air.
Torencia is the country farthest from Amister and is also an island nation, so using a sea route would require passing near enemy countries. Even if land routes were used for part of the journey, it would still necessitate passing through enemy territory, making the situation costly at best.
Therefore, there was no choice but air travel. However, air travel uses airborne mounts like Wyverns, limiting the number of people who can travel and requiring magical tools such as Mirror Bags and Storage Bags.
Mirror Bags can be purchased for a few thousand El, as long as capacity is not a concern, but Storage Bags cost hundreds of thousands of El even for the smallest capacity, and require Magic Stones of at least G-rank. Thus, they are rather difficult to obtain.
However, acquiring Magic Stones has become easier now, and as a result, Storage Bags are said to have decreased in price.
However, with the introduction of ships, travel by Beast Carriage will become possible, and the Mirror Rooms and Storage Rooms attached to Beast Carriages can be utilized more effectively, dramatically increasing the amount of goods that can be transported.
It will also be easier for Hunters to travel, so I believe the number of people going to Torencia will increase even more than before.
“The Federation Heavenly Empire also welcomes increased travel. Of course, we are also looking forward to Airships. Yamato, do you know the status of those Airships?”
“We’re waiting on the results from a prototype completed by the Crafter’s Guild the other day.”
“I believe tomorrow is the test flight, isn’t it?”
“That’s right.”
We commissioned the Crafter’s Guild’s Feel branch to build the Airships, and a prototype was finally completed a few days ago.
We produced the original and entrusted it to the Crafter’s Guild. However, the Crafter’s Guild also needs to manufacture it, and it is their first time doing so, so it naturally took time.
Nevertheless, completing a prototype in just over a month is quite fast.
“Tomorrow. So, depending on the results, the manufacturing method will be shared with the head office, and also with the branches, is that correct?”
“Rather than branches, it’s said that only the head offices in each country, not the branches, will receive the plans, as it’s a complex item.”
“Ah, it’s not something that can be easily made, and in a small town, it might even require the entire staff of crafters.”
“Yes. And it’s not something that will be ordered frequently.”
The Airships can also be used as watercraft, but they are unlikely to be ordered frequently.
The materials and cost alone will not be less than 10 Divine Gold Coins.
Furthermore, their usage, aside from transportation, seems to be limited to Hunters and Nobles for travel. They are slower than Dragonians, but can still reach Feel from Float in one day, and it’s possible to sleep and stay overnight in the sky.
The Union, which has Ancient Hunters, will likely place orders, but other than that, it will probably be limited to countries, nobles, and guilds.
“Depending on the prototype’s performance, we don’t even know when our order will be completed, and full-scale orders will likely be placed after that.”
“Indeed. Considering the connection to Multi-functional Beast Carriages, there will probably be a considerable number of orders, but it should settle down in a few years. Then there’s the matter of large and medium-sized Airships for transport.”
The size specifications for Airships were roughly proposed by Mako.
Under 20 meters in length is small, under 50 meters is medium, and anything larger is large. There is also the Beast Carriage type, which connects to Beast Carriages.
The Beast Carriage type will average a small size, but considering it will connect to the Multi-functional Beast Carriages owned by the Ritter’s Guild, it could be medium-sized, or perhaps even large.
In fact, the Airship hull we ordered is nearly 40 meters long, classifying it as medium-sized.
Honestly, we didn’t intend to make it this large, but the Wing Crest’s Multi-functional Beast Carriage was manufactured with troop transport in mind, so it had to be made larger. It’s also a problem that they can’t go outside, even though simple exercises can be done in the courtyard.
Incidentally, Airships, due to weight reduction and size constraints, do not have space to carry Beast Carriages.
Therefore, while there will be some competition, ships are expected to remain in demand.
“Shouldn’t we establish air routes, even if roughly, before deciding on the sizes?”
“Hmm, that’s also an option. Well, in any case, it’s a discussion for after the prototype is completed.”
“Yes.”
The existence of Airships has not yet been officially announced, but rumors are circulating, and I’ve heard that the Crafter’s Guild has received many inquiries.
After the Crafter’s Guild’s prototype is completed, a presentation will be held, and Yamato, Mako, Ludia, and I will be announced as the manufacturers. Orders will then commence. However, the order of priority has already been decided behind the scenes, with the first being the Wing Crest chassis and the second being the Celestial Emperor’s Family’s Multi-functional Beast Carriage chassis.
“Ah, and one more thing, Yamato.”
“Yes?”
“Regarding the territory to be granted to Yamato and Mana, the candidates are the abandoned bridge city, Olden Island in the Nadal Sea, and the Kobaldia Ruins. What are your thoughts?”
The candidate territories for Yamato and Mana-sama have already been decided.
Well, I suppose preparations are necessary, so it’s not entirely unusual.
“Are those the areas we expected them to be?”
“There are other options, but considering your and Mana’s plans…”
Ah, Yamato had already anticipated this.
Come to think of it, Yamato and Mana-sama’s plans were for an Academy City and a Tourist City, so the Kobaldia Ruins and Olden Island might be the most likely candidates.
“I’ll have to ask Mana, but I don’t think she’ll choose the bridge city.”
“It’s on the list of candidates, but I expect that too. Well, we still have time, so don’t rush it.”
“Understood.”
Mana-sama’s opinion is necessary, and as His Majesty said, we have time, so it’s a relief not to have to rush.
It is scheduled for them to be granted territory at the earliest in three years.
I also want to work hard to learn my duties as an administrator and support them. This is not just my wish, but the wish of everyone in the Union.
Since His Majesty brought up the matter of selecting candidate sites, discussions tonight are likely to be productive.
