Magi Craft Meister
Chapter 687
<p class="tm6">**Chapter 20***37: Interlude 36: Various Ships**<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">On November 30th, 3457 of the Continental Calendar, in the port town of Kuup at the southern tip of the Celuroa Kingdom, a large crowd had gathered.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“Wow, that’s amazing!”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“It’s huge!”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“Will it really move?”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“If that ship works, it’ll change the world.”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“I’m envious.”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">The ship, named “Bridget,” had just launched. It was a 40***meter class wooden sailing ship.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">The ship’s design was reminiscent of the “caravel” ships from the Age of Exploration on Earth.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">Although it was a sailing ship, it was propelled by magic.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">Wind magic was cast towards the sails to move the ship forward.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">Small sailing ships were not uncommon in Kuup, but a large ship with three masts and divided sails had captured the public’s attention even before its launch.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“This is well***made. No leaks and the swaying is reduced.”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“It’s all thanks to you.”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">On the deck, the ship owner, Eckert Techres, and the magic craftsman, Arthur, were exchanging words.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“Everything is fine with the steering mechanism. We can depart anytime.”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">The voice from the stern belonged to Guenna, Arthur’s wife.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">In truth, Arthur and Guenna were not humans; they were the fifth column quintuples sent by Jin. Arthur was Regulus 50, and Guenna was Deneb 30.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">The assistant golem was a smith golem, Smith 40.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“Alright, raise the anchor! Let’s set sail!”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“Aye!”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">Of course, there were many human crew members on board. “Bridget” unfurled its sails.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“Magic engine, start.”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“Roger!”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">A large magical device with the same effect as the wind attribute magic “Gale” began to operate.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">A strong wind arose, filling the sails.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“Wow!”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">The spectators on the shore cheered.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“Bridget” slowly left the port.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“Good, let’s sail around for testing! Get used to it as soon as possible!”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">The ship owner Eckert instructed the captain.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“We’re going to buy food from the Shouro Empire soon!”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">Eckert knew that the northern and eastern parts of the Celuroa Kingdom were on the brink of a food shortage. He planned to use this large ship to buy wheat from the Shouro Empire, rumored to have a good harvest.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">***<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">Meanwhile, in the town of Simos on the shores of Lake Wass in the Shouro Empire, a second new ship was being built based on the plans left by Jin.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">The same shipyard that built the “Bernstein” was being used.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">Most of the workers and helpers were the same ones who had worked on the “Bernstein.”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">This time, the site supervisor was Cobalt, a shipwright from Simos.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">However, instead of moving the ship to the lake on a cart, they planned to use the water***injection method.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">This plan was suggested by Christoph, who had broken out in a cold sweat when the “Bernstein” didn’t start moving.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">As for the ship, the same materials as before were gathered.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">Five magic engineers were hired, not the best, but competent enough. The lack of quality was compensated by quantity.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“Let’s give it our best!”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">Even though they had built one before, the second time wasn’t any easier.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“Things are so slow without Jin here…”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">Despite following the same procedures, they got stuck on the details. These were the parts Jin had secretly adjusted.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“Look at this gap!”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“It won’t fit together!”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“Why are the dimensions off!?”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">Grumbles and complaints were heard all over. Cobalt was busy calming everyone down.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">The first ship, “Bernstein,” was a new model representing the pride of the Shouro Empire, and success was the primary goal.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">The second ship was intended to be the first of many sister ships, built without top***tier engineers.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">Cobalt’s struggles were far from ordinary.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">Then he noticed a file left by Jin, titled “Notes on the New Ship Construction.” Christoph had handed it over to Cobalt, but he had been too busy to pay much attention to it.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“What’s this?”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">Cobalt picked it up and read it, feeling as if he’d been struck on the head. It contained detailed notes on the problematic areas.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“Jin left us something like this…!”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">Regretting not reading it sooner, Cobalt realized he had to act now.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“Better late than never…”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">With Jin’s notes in hand, Cobalt inspected the construction site.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“Check the strength of this joint.”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“Make sure this seam won’t leak.”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“The reliability of the jet thrusters isn’t high if they’re not made by Jin. We might need more backup thrusters.”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">With the notes, Cobalt supervised the site, jotting down new observations.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“I should have had an apprentice shadow Jin back then…”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">Deciding to act, Cobalt chose a young shipwright to be his assistant.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">Thus, the shipbuilding skills of the Shouro Empire gradually improved.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">***<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">Back on the “Bernstein.”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“December 9th: Clear skies, calm seas. Departed for Potluck. Crew is in high spirits. Anchored off Bunsen.”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“December 10th: Clear skies, calm seas. Sailed by the Great Divide River. No issues except for slower than expected speed due to currents. Anchored off Alco.”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“December 11th: Overcast, calm seas. Crossed the Border River into the Celuroa Kingdom. No issues. Anchored off Inaina.”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">On December 12th, the “Bernstein” left Inaina and approached Kuup at the southern tip of the Celuroa Kingdom.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“Captain! A large ship ahead! About the same size as ours!”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“What?”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">The lookout reported from the observation deck.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">A few minutes later, the captain and crew also spotted the large ship.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“The ship is called… ‘Bridget.’ It’s from the Celuroa Kingdom. It’s sailing with its sails full of wind. Wait, that can’t be right? There’s hardly any wind today.”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">On the “Bridget,” they had also spotted the “Bernstein,” causing a commotion.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“Is that a ship from the Shouro Empire?”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“The name is… ‘Bernstein?'”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“It’s about the same size as ours. But it has no sails or masts. How is it moving?”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">Only Arthur wasn’t surprised, having been informed by Laojun.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">(So that’s the new ship Chief worked on. It’s flawless. As expected.)<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">The two ships passed each other at a distance of less than 100 meters.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“Bridget” headed west, while “Bernstein” headed east.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">The crews stood at the rails, waving and calling out to each other.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“Good luck wherever you’re going!”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“Keep it up!”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">“Don’t sink!”<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">Despite their different nationalities, the sailors felt a kinship and shouted their encouragements.<p class="tm6"> <p class="tm6">Everyone present believed that this marked the beginning of a new era of large ships.<p class="Normal"> <!-- CONTENT END 1 -->
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