Chapter 305 – Master of the Airship

“Oh! Theodore-kun! Everyone!”

When I went to check on the backstage area, I found Irmhild and the others holding hands and celebrating their successful performance. When Irmhild noticed us, she turned a beaming smile our way.

“Yeah. Good work, everyone. That was great.”

“Thank you. Hmm… It was our first time as a group of five, but it felt really good,” said Justia with a radiant smile.

“Sheila, Cyrille, how was it?”

“Mmm. It was fun,” Sheila answered with a small smile when I asked for their impressions.

Sheila was as detached as ever, but with her tail held straight up, it seemed like she was more excited internally than she appeared on the surface.

“It makes me happy when everyone enjoys it.”

“Right.”

Dominique nodded at Cyrille’s words. Watching them, Claudia smiled gently.

“To have the songs I taught performed before everyone… It’s a strange feeling, in a way.”

Well, they were songs passed down from the Labyrinth Village.

“I’d love to hear Claudia-sama perform too.”

When Seraphina said that, Cyrille also nodded.

“I also remember being lulled to sleep by the princess’s songs and instruments when I was little.”

“Um… Yes, that’s right. I couldn’t perform before a large crowd like Irmhild and the others… but if it’s just for all of you, that would be fine.”

Claudia nodded while blushing slightly. Seeing everyone celebrating together was heartwarming, but… since they needed to change clothes and such, I decided to leave the room here and prepare for our move.

After this, we were heading to the hot spring town as planned. We would move to the Fire Spirit Hot Spring with almost all the people we invited today, relax there for a while, and then have discussions with King Melvin, King Eberhart, and the others.

Father and the others, and Marquis Zilbolt, weren’t participating in the meeting, but they were invited to the hot spring town.

By the time we split up and headed to the hot spring town by carriage, the sun had completely set. The hot spring town… from what I could see from the carriage, construction of shops and such seemed to have started in various places. As for the therapeutic baths, they were already functional.

Arriving at the Fire Spirit Hot Spring, a wonderful aroma wafted through the air. Just like during the hot spring town’s unveiling, chefs had come from the Royal Castle to prepare dinner for everyone.

It seemed they wanted everyone to be able to eat at their own pace, just like last time.

“Theo… I heard you built this entire district… that outer wall too?”

Right after getting off the carriage in front of the entrance, Father asked.

“Yes. Although when I say the entire district, it’s only some of the buildings. The therapeutic baths and ritual hall located further away, then the outer wall… and after that, just the sewage system maintenance, I suppose.”

“…Wouldn’t you say that’s almost everything?”

Daryl shook his head.

“…Hmm. The theater and that performance’s production—no, I should have known since you worked on the mansion’s basement…”

Father groaned. Kathryn’s eyes were wide, and Daryl was smiling with a distant look in his eyes.

“…After showing us such a magnificent thing at the theater, and now this on top of it.”

“I wonder what we’ll find inside.”

Old Sigmund and Valentina also wore somewhat strained smiles.

“The Fire Spirit Hot Spring has many attractions too.”

“Hmm. Shall we go around together, Steph?”

“That sounds good. But we have a meeting later, so shall we come together another day?”

“Yes. Rather than rushing through it, I prefer taking our time to fully enjoy it too.”

So said Princess Stephania and Princess Adriana. That the two were so enthusiastic… was somewhat expected. From a little distance away, Rosemary watched them while hiding her mouth behind a feather fan, her expression indescribable.

Marlene seemed happily amused by Princess Stephania’s heightened excitement.

“Now then, a few explanations.”

First, I had everyone enter and conveyed several precautions about the Fire Spirit Hot Spring. Just things like the location of the changing rooms, how to use the bath robes, and explanations about the slider and sauna.

“With that, my explanations are finished.”

After I finished explaining, Grace spoke to me.

“Then, we’ll go take a bath too.”

“Yeah. Okay, let’s meet in the rest area after we’re done.”

“Yes.”

Grace nodded quietly.

“Camilla-sama, I’ll guide you.”

“Thank you, Ashley-sama.”

It seemed Ashley would be guiding Camilla too.

“Okay Camilla, see you later.”

“Yes, Elliot.”

We split into men and women heading to the changing rooms. Elliot and Camilla waved at each other with smiles as they parted.

Well then. I’ll take it easy until the discussions begin.

“Haaah…”

I sank into the large bath’s tub up to my shoulders and let out a breath. It warmed me to my core perfectly.

Everyone… seemed to be enjoying the Fire Spirit Hot Spring in their own ways. Daryl also appeared to have been tense the whole time amidst the kings, lords, and royalty, but he finally seemed to catch his breath in the tub, looking like he’d come back to life.

That said, Albert and Elliot were with him now. As for Albert, even though he’s a prince, he’s an easygoing person, and perhaps because Daryl understood that and they were close in age, he seemed able to relax to some extent.

“Oh ho. So this bubble bath Magic Tool can be purchased?”

“Well, if it’s Silvatoria, making the same thing shouldn’t be difficult.”

“No, no. For things like this, one should show respect to the pioneer. I’d definitely like to purchase it.”

King Melvin and King Eberhart exchanged such conversation in the jacuzzi-style bath. Albert wore a wry smile. It seemed the Labyrinth Trading Company would prosper too, which was fine.

“This hot water seems to have a strange Magical Power,” said Elliot.

“It seems to be the same as the hot water from Mt. Tephra. It appears to have various effects.”

“I see. So you built therapeutic baths too. This does indeed seem effective.”

“I often use the hot spring at the ritual hall. Even if I push myself a bit, the fatigue doesn’t linger.”

Albert smiled. …Yeah. I do feel somewhat responsible for that.

“Hmm. This is good.”

“The fatigue is fading.”

Old Sigmund returned to us with Father, rubbing his shoulders. It seemed they had gone to the waterfall bath.

“Oh, Theodore. We’re enjoying ourselves.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

The two sank into the tub. The three generations of father and son bathing together gave me a strange feeling. I decided to enjoy the bath while looking up at the full moon visible through the large bath’s window.

After a while, King Melvin and King Eberhart moved from the jacuzzi over to us.

“Theodore. Albert. Do you have a moment?”

“What is it?”

“Yes. After we get out of the bath, we’ll have our discussion, but before that, we thought we’d tell you what we can.”

“Understood. Then…”

With Old Sigmund joining us, the five of us moved to a spot slightly away from everyone else.

“What did you want to discuss?”

“Yes. It’s about your reward.”

“In other words… considering your achievements, we thought it would be best to give you the airship after providing full support for its development, and let you use it freely at your discretion.”

“What?”

Old Sigmund’s eyes widened. Albert put his hand to his chin and made a thoughtful gesture.

…The airship as a reward. That’s quite an extravagant story.

I had been told I could handle the airship’s development at my discretion, but indeed, how the completed airship would be positioned and handled hadn’t been decided yet.

“However, even though we call it a reward, we’re also thinking about the Demons. Even though we have Teleportation Magic, since its destinations are limited to temples of a certain scale, your mobility is what’s most important.”

“If there’s distance from the teleportation point to the actual site, using an airship would be easier than consuming Vitality or Magical Power,” said Albert.

“And if there are injured people or important individuals who need rescue, having an airship would make it easier to handle… that’s also a factor, right?”

“Indeed. That’s correct.”

“Understood. I’ll take custody of the airship and do my utmost to meet your expectations.”

“Yes. We’re counting on you to create something amazing that will serve as the foundation for airships built in later generations.”

King Melvin grinned, showing his teeth.

Hmm. Airship development, huh. Even if we proceed with the airship we previously discussed for Demon combat… if the purpose changes to things like transportation between cities, naturally the Materials and Equipment would need to change too.

If it’s to serve as the foundation for airships built later… besides the one we’re currently trying to build, I should also develop ideas for airships focused on other uses to some extent. After all, we’re gathering considerable technical power and resources… so there’s definitely some cost disregard happening, no matter how you look at it.