On the morning of June 6, the same members who visited the three duchies took off for the Principality of Jagus.
Our destination was Jaguar, the capital of the Principality of Jaguar.
The course is not a straight ......, but a detour around the unnamed peak that rises in the center of the four duchies and serves as the border between them.
The course goes northward in the Principality of Mimaka, and goes around the north side of the unnamed peak. Therefore, it took about the same amount of time as the trip to the Principality of Norway.
"But I didn't realize that mountain didn't have a name."
As the airship approached the unnamed peak, Gaju Tuga said.
"Mr. Tsuga, a balloon is coming up."
"What?"
Ten hot air balloons approached slowly and menacingly, as if they were trying to keep Gaju Tsuga and his airship from getting too close to the unnamed peak.
"Don't provoke them. Change course."
With the speed and maneuverability of the airship, ten hot-air balloons would not pose much of a threat, but Gaju Tugga instructed the pilot to fly around the unnamed peak.
"There's a mine there, isn't there?"
Gaju Tshuga muttered to himself as he looked at the unnamed peak as he detoured more than 20 kilometers away from the mine.
"Yes. They are probably on the lookout for the mines and smelting facilities.
To which Manon replied.
"You have told them that you are visiting today, right?"
Fionn Fias asked a little anxiously.
"Of course I have. They have a there too, even if it's an old-fashioned one.
Gaju Tsuga added, "Maybe that's why they were so wary of us.
* * * *
After that, the airship flew over the wilderness without any major trouble.
"Well, it's not going to rain much, but it's going to rain, right?"
Gaju Tugga thought, "There is too little green in the wilderness below us.
"The rain that falls seems to soak into the soil very quickly," Manon said.
Manon said.
"When this visit is over, we should do the soil survey we promised the Principality of Norway.
"Yes, that's right."
There is much work to be done, Gaju Tugga said with a small sigh.
Then, as the sea came into view in the distance, Gaju Tugga said, "We are almost at the capital, Jaguar.
"We are almost at the capital, Jaguar.
Jaguar is located about 18 kilometers inland from the sea.
The other three duchies have their capitals a little further inland as well.
The Duchy of Jagus has satellite cities surrounding the capital.
From the air, they looked like guards protecting the capital, Jag.
"Okay, we'll pause here."
Gaju Tsuga instructed the pilot.
"When we contacted them with the manaphone, we were told to stay over the town a little ahead of the capital, not over the capital.
These are the words to Fiona Fierce.
And they waited for about 10 minutes.
"Look, the pickup is coming up."
"Oh, is that the pick-up?
It was about 50 hot air balloons. They seem to use wind magic to move, and their movements are reasonably agile.
And all of them were manned by soldiers with small bow guns.
"The Duchy of Norway had four planes, but this one has 50. We're very welcome."
Gaju Tugga was also nervous, but he was trying to appear calm because he knew that if he showed it on his face or in his attitude, Fionn Fias and the pilots would be even more nervous.
Manon, on the other hand, was ready to respond to any arrow fired from the hot air balloon at any moment.
(A quarter of full power is enough to deploy a solid physical barrier that covers the entire airship.
) But there was no need to be alarmed,
A voice of confirmation came over the airship, "You are a friendly envoy from , aren't you?
I heard a voice confirming that they were friendly envoys from <. They seem to be using wind magic.
That's right. Can you show us the way?
Gaju Tsuga also used wind magic to send a reply to the other party's hot air balloon.
I've heard about this. Follow me to the red balloon.
Understood.
Gaju Tsuga guessed that the red balloon would be carrying a captain or a diplomat of high rank, and instructed the pilot to follow the red balloon.
"Follow that red balloon."
The red balloon was followed by the airship, with 24 hot air balloons flying parallel to each other. And one more at the tail end.
So the airship is surrounded by hot air balloons.
"We are surrounded, aren't we?
Fiona Fierce muttered in a slightly trembling voice.
"Yes, we are. ......2 dimensionally."
In fact, it is empty on the top and bottom.
The bottom part is the town line, so what is actually empty is the top part.
"If push comes to shove, we can just soar."
I don't think that's actually going to happen, but they explain this to reassure Fionn Fierce (and the other pilots).
"Hot air balloons can't soar."
Gaju Tuga said that the airship would never be able to keep up with the rapid ascent of the balloon.
Using wind magic might help to some extent, but the strain on the air sacs would be too great, and they would be in danger of breaking or crashing.
"Oh, I see."
Fionn Fierce seemed a little relieved by the explanation.
The airship, led by a hot air balloon, landed at an airfield south of the capital city of Jag.
"Welcome to the Principality of Jags!
A diplomat, whose name was Pringus Kubo, greeted them as they stepped off the airship.
"My name is Gaju Tsuga, ambassador of friendship. Pleased to meet you, Mr. Kubo.
The two shook hands and Gaju Tsuga introduced his companion.
"That is my deputy, Fiona Fierce. This is my valet, Manon."
Once again, the pilot and co-pilot were the absentees.
"Welcome, Fiona Fierce and Manon."
Pringles Kubo shook hands with Fiona and Manon.
"We have a car for you. Please, this way."
Pringles-Kubo then led the group to the Golem car.
The Golem car was a model they had never seen before, more like a new ...... than an old one.
(Somewhat old ...... No, is this original? ......Oh, maybe Illumina would have figured it out).
Fiona Fierce felt sorry for her lack of knowledge of engineering magic.
The golem car carrying the group headed for the guest house on the fringe of the capital.