Helios Orb Chronicle – Chapter 527

Here is the translated text, with paragraphs adjusted for better flow:

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**Side: Ludia**

As August drew to a close, I was diligently helping Yamato. We were in the newly constructed factory behind the Crafting Hall, where I’d been working for some time. Yamato had his own work, Flam was pregnant, and Mako had been increasingly busy lecturing at Memoria General Academy as a healer, so there were many days I worked alone. But it paid off, as today marked the completion of our prototype.

“Alright, it’s done!”

“Yep! Now all that’s left is the test flight. If there are no problems, we’ll go for a large one?”

“That’s the plan, but I also want to make one for us, so that might take priority.”

What we had been building was an Airship, proposed by my mother-in-law. It had taken a basic shape before my father-in-law and mother-in-law returned, and we’d even test-flown it then. However, being a prototype of a prototype, it was far from perfect. It lacked speed and could have crashed at any moment. But after four months of trial and error, we’d finally reached this point. And the result was the prototype Airship before me and Yamato now, measuring 18 meters in length, 6 meters in width, and 5 meters in height.

“We’re testing with Alka first, right?”

“Yeah. It would be fine to do it down here, but then there’s the issue of where. And if we crash clumsily, it’ll cause a huge commotion. So, we’ll test it with Alka first, and then find a suitable place to test it further.”

Indeed, an Airship was something no one had ever tried before, so any test flight, no matter the context, would surely cause a stir. And it wouldn’t just stop at that; there would definitely be those who’d try to take it away.

“Shall we board it right away then?”

“That’s the intention. Honestly, I’d like everyone to ride together, but we can’t force a pregnant woman, and I don’t think it’s right to interrupt their work either.”

I felt the same way, but if we didn’t at least discuss it, wouldn’t they get angry? Besides, Flam and Mako were involved in its construction, so just calling them wouldn’t be enough to quell their displeasure.

“Heh, I suppose. Then let’s just do the final checks today and postpone the test flight until everyone’s schedule is clear.”

“That sounds like a good idea.”

I wanted to fly it immediately, but I didn’t want to go ahead without everyone else. So, even if it meant waiting a few days, I supposed it couldn’t be helped.

“Alright, let’s begin the confirmation work. We’ll start with the Tenma Stone.”

“Okay.”

The exterior of the Airship was almost identical to the Multi-functional Beast Carriage, as it was designed to function as a ship as well. The reason for this was to use the sea or lakes as a substitute for a runway, meaning it couldn’t fly if it couldn’t also operate as a ship. It could also perform vertical takeoffs and landings, but this consumed a significant amount of the Tenma Stone’s magic power, so it was reserved for emergencies. Consequently, the Tenma Stone used was not much different from the one in our Tree-made Multi-functional Beast Carriage. In fact, the only additions were Wind attribute magic, Flying, and Telekinetic Magic to the Tenma Stone used for piloting.

The Airship was equipped with Hydro Engines for use as a ship and Aero Engines to expel wind backward for propulsion through the air. Both the Hydro and Aero Engines had three units in the front and five in the rear. These allowed for forward and backward movement, as well as turning and deceleration. Thus, they were the most critical components of the Airship, and the piloting Tenma Stone to operate them was essential. Neglecting their confirmation was the one thing we absolutely couldn’t afford to do.

“Yes, the magic power is flowing steadily. There seem to be no problems.”

“Both the Hydro Engines and Aero Engines are operating properly. We won’t know for sure how they perform until we actually use them, but since they’re functioning well at this stage, I think we’re good.”

It was difficult to confirm the Hydro Engines without water, and if the Aero Engines generated enough wind to move an Airship nearly 20 meters long within the factory, it would be chaotic. Therefore, we could only confirm basic operation. The Tenma Stone was normally fixed in the cockpit, but it couldn’t be fully installed until all final checks were complete, so it was temporarily set up for easy removal. Otherwise, confirmation would not only be a hassle but downright burdensome.

“The wings too… yes, they move properly.”

“Yeah. But now that I think about it, don’t they look a bit delicate?”

“I thought so too. However, the wings’ role is to utilize Flying, and since we’ve made the surface area a bit larger, it should compensate.”

That made sense. The wings were imbued with Flying magic, without which the Airship could never take to the skies. Flying magic allowed users to soar freely through the air using their own wings, so for it to be imbued, the Airship absolutely needed wings. The wings of the Airship were artificially crafted using the hide and bones of the Ocean Howl Grand, defeated during the Kobaldia Incident. They were modeled after the wings of dragon-like creatures such as dragonized Dragonians and Dragoons, and they were the most challenging part to create. Not only did they need to be perfectly symmetrical, but the framework had to be robust enough to avoid breaking easily, while still allowing for folding. The wing membranes had to be reinforced by layering the hide and imbuing Barrier Magic to prevent tearing. It took two months to create something satisfactory. Unfortunately, despite all our efforts, the Ocean Howl Grand was a water-attribute monster and a terrestrial species, making its components have a somewhat awkward compatibility with an Airship, resulting in higher magic consumption. In fact, when we tested wings made with a small amount of hide, we found that wind-attribute flying monsters had the best compatibility, so this was somewhat unavoidable.

“Okay, it folds properly. If we move to full-scale production, we’ll have to hunt a Gast Dragoon in the Solpre Labyrinth, but the know-how we gained is significant.”

“It was truly troublesome…”

Actually, I was the one who made these wings. It was partly because I had the most free time, but I never imagined it would take so long. The Ocean Howl Grand is an A-C Rank Monster, so its bones and hide are tough but also difficult to process. If the framework isn’t built meticulously, they can break easily. That’s why it took so much trial and error. The wings of Dragonians and Dragoons are similar to those of Dragonewts, so I worked hard while looking at my own wings. Consequently, the wings attached to this prototype Airship are incredibly durable, able to withstand considerable force. The wing membranes were soaked in Lapis Laz and further imbued with Shielding.

“The deck is… yes, no issues here either.”

“The main body of the Airship is the same as the Multi-functional Beast Carriage, after all.”

“It’s like flying a ship.”

Right. Actually, it’s stranger that the Multi-functional Beast Carriage has the shape of a ship to begin with. I’ve gotten used to it, and since the Multi-functional Beast Carriage is popular among Nobles and Hunters, it’s not really a topic anymore. The deck is the same at both the front and rear, and there’s a Driver’s Seat on the front deck. Above the cabin, there’s also an observation deck with a canopy, so in terms of usability, it’s virtually identical, if not completely so. There was no need to change it.

“There aren’t any foldable tables, but that’s okay for now, right?”

“It’s a prototype, and we intend to use it as a test vessel, so it’s fine.”

Ah, so that’s why there were no foldable tables or benches on the deck or the observation deck. With Craft Magic, installation and removal aren’t difficult, and since it’s a test vessel, we’ll likely be testing new functions as needed, so it’s better to have it empty. However, perhaps because of this, the deck only has the bare minimum necessities like the Driver’s Seat and canopy, making it feel a bit bare.

“Ludia, what about the Mirror Room?”

“I’ve prepared the Living room, our bedroom, two guest rooms, and a stable-cum-courtyard.”

Even though it’s a prototype and a test vessel, we still need to furnish the interior. We don’t know if it’ll be used much, but we can’t test-fly it completely empty. Of course, toilets and baths are also included.

“Understood. Then after checking those, we’ll head back to the Main Hall.”

“Okay.”

The Mirror Room is basically the same as the Multi-functional Beast Carriage, so the inspection is minimal. Furthermore, what’s the difference between a Multi-functional Beast Carriage and an Airship besides the wings and Aero Engines for flying? The Multi-functional Beast Carriage is a land-based ship, and the Airship is an airborne ship, so it’s natural for them to be similar.

Upon entering the Mirror Room, the first thing you notice, just like in the Multi-functional Beast Carriage, is the Living room. It spans 70 square meters and also serves as a dining area, with a 20-square-meter kitchen adjacent to it. Naturally, the corridors and doors leading to the courtyard and bedrooms are also located here, along with the toilet and bath.

For sure, I couldn’t have managed this alone. I even received help from Flam, who was pregnant, and Fiana, who had just given birth. Furnishing the interior is truly a daunting task.

“Compared to the Multi-functional Beast Carriage, the amenities are fewer, but it’s as I instructed, and you’ve compensated with decorations, haven’t you?”

“Well, that’s about all I could do. I couldn’t overwork Flam and the others, so I’m grateful.”

“Mako and I were also very busy.”

That’s understandable.

“Oh, you put quite a bit of effort into the bath.”

“Of course. We use the Hot Springs regularly, so even for a prototype, we can’t skimp on the bath.”

The Hot Springs are luxuriously built, something even the Royal Family doesn’t possess, and we have free access to them daily. So, removing or simplifying the bath, even for a prototype, was unthinkable. Even if it was Yamato’s instruction, everyone would have vehemently opposed it.

“No, we wouldn’t oppose it at all. I also love the Hot Springs and the baths in the Main Hall, so I’m particular about the bath, even if it’s a prototype.”

He sounds a bit nervous, but I’ll pretend it’s just my imagination.

“Oh, it’s quite spacious, isn’t it?”

“That’s right. We designed it considering everyone bathing together, and also for the children.”

Yamato tried to change the subject, but this bath was where we put the most effort into the Mirror Room. It’s not as spacious as the Hinomoto Mansion, but about 20 people can fit in simultaneously, and there’s an equally large area for washing.

“And the courtyard, I put a lot of effort into that too.”

“Since Flow is here, a water area is essential, isn’t it?”

Finally, we looked at the courtyard, which also served as a stable, and was the most challenging to create. With the increase in familiars and summoned beasts, especially larger species, we secured 500 square meters. However, even this might feel a bit cramped. The reason for this is the pool, which occupies 100 square meters. Flam’s familiar, Flow, is a Lithos, so a water area is a must. We prepared it, but Flow is over 5 meters long, so even this pool is still quite small. We did construct a 2x2x2 meter box-like structure in the center and applied mirroring with an Element Class of 80 times the maximum. For now, since Flow is the only aquatic familiar, I think it’s sufficient. I apologize to the other familiars that it’s cramped for them, but the fundamental solution would be to expand the area, and this is the best we could do for a prototype.

“We need to do something about the Tree-made Multi-functional Beast Carriage as well, not just the prototype Airship.”

“If we do that, we’ll have to reduce the number of guest rooms, won’t we?”

“Or we could expand the Mirror Room, but that would require removing the interior once. However, it’s probably better not to reduce the guest rooms haphazardly, so that’s likely where we’d make changes.”

This is a troubling discussion. However, expanding the courtyard-cum-stable is essential, and it feels like we should do it while we can. Depending on how much time it takes, it’s still just thinking for now. I’ll also put thought into what we should do.