After dinner.

A report was given by the representative of the angel flight crew regarding the solo operation test.

There were no issues with the operation.

As for defense, there were also no problems during flight.

However, during the recovery of the dropped Multipurpose Humanoid Mobile Heavy Machine (Arti-Horse), they were short on combat strength and had to request help from the spiderlings and Suarurou, which was flagged as an issue.

Of course, the problem wasn’t that the spiderlings and Suarurou helped.

Requesting assistance was actually seen as a positive, showing they had a good grasp of their own capabilities.

Rather than stubbornly pushing on and suffering casualties, their decision-making was sound.

The issue pointed out was the lack of sufficient combat power against demon beasts and monsters on the ground.

But if it had been a forced landing, the lack of strength would have been a serious concern.

I see.

Still, we can’t always have the spiderlings or Suarurou onboard.

[Just a few Snipe Spiders would be enough.]

Snipe Spiders are an evolved form of the spiderlings, and most of them serve as guards at the Patisserie Fairy Fairy.

Several of them accompanied the test mission as well.

[Even one would be enough, but then it wouldn’t be able to take breaks.]

True.

Alright.

But whether the spiderlings will be stationed on the airship permanently is up to Zabuton.

I’ll ask her.

[Understood. Also, once the flight route has been decided, I believe conducting regular subjugation of demon beasts and monsters along that route will improve safety.]

That’s true.

However, we can’t just send out a subjugation team without permission.

The route will likely pass through the territory of Count Pugyaru or those connected to him…

Before deciding the route, we should consult Count Pugyaru.

Whether a subjugation team can operate there might become a key factor in determining the route.

…….

[Is something wrong?]

No, it’s just that lately, whenever we start talking about these things, Beezel shows up with a letter or a letter of authorization from Count Pugyaru.

But surely not every single time.

Just as I thought that, Yuri, who had been waiting for our meeting while enjoying tea after dinner, raised her hand.

[Excuse me. I have been entrusted with a letter of authorization regarding the deployment of forces within Count Pugyaru’s territory.]

Apparently, Yuri came to Big Tree Village before noon to deliver the letter.

Unfortunately, I had just left on Raimeiren to retrieve one of the multi-purpose humanoid heavy machines, so we missed each other, and she ended up waiting in the village.

Sorry for keeping you waiting.

And thank you for the letter of authorization.

As for a reply or thanks to Count Pugyaru…

[They are not necessary.]

As usual, then.

Understood.

I handed the letter of authorization from Count Pugyaru to the oni maid standing behind me and returned to the conversation.

With that, the issue of sending out a subjugation team was mostly resolved.

I informed the representative of the angel transport crew that once the route is officially decided, regular deployment of a subjugation team will be arranged.

[Thank you very much.]

That concluded the report on the solo flight test.

The representative of the angel transport crew bowed to me, then headed over to where Suarurou was sitting at a nearby table.

Since one of the angels in charge of escort was also present, they were probably going to evaluate the actions taken during the airship’s operation.

From what I’ve heard, there shouldn’t be any reprimands.

Good luck.

-0-

Next was Bell’s investigation report.

Bell began by apologizing for the delay in her return.

But considering there was trouble involving the dropped multi-purpose humanoid heavy machine, I don’t think there was much she could have done.

[No, if I had firmly insisted on bringing back only one unit instead of two… I can’t forgive myself for being swayed by Yoru.]

I-I see.

Don’t let it weigh on you too much.

So, did you find out the cause of the machines not deteriorating?

This time, Bell boarded the airship to investigate why the preserved condition of the multi-purpose humanoid heavy machines was so good.

Since the four units she brought back were still operational, she had confirmed that they hadn’t deteriorated.

[Yes. As expected, it seems the cause lies with the feather magic crystal.]

Bell had investigated the area where the feather magic crystals had been discarded, mining sites where the crystals could be harvested, and ones where they could not. She also inspected the condition of the multi-purpose humanoid heavy machines and related parts.

[I’ll submit the detailed report later, but…To put it simply, the more feather magic crystals there are nearby, the more deterioration is suppressed.]

I see.

[The reason Kissinley’s airship is still in operable condition may be because there were feather magic crystals near it.]

That’s possible.

[I’d like to ask the Kissinley couple in more detail about the circumstances when it was being hidden.]

They’re staying with Miyo.

You can speak with them whenever it suits you.

[Thank you very much.]

So, where exactly were the four multi-purpose humanoid heavy machines you brought back?

And the related parts?

When I went there, Siegfried was at the spot where the feather magic crystals and other ores had been discarded…

[At the bottom.]

The bottom?

[Yes. At the bottom of the place where the ores containing feather magic crystals had been discarded, there was a horizontal tunnel. They were inside that tunnel.]

A horizontal tunnel?

Ah, that makes sense.

If the machines had just been left at the bottom, they would have been crushed under the weight of all that ore containing feather magic crystals.

The reason they were intact must be because they were in the horizontal tunnel.

[Exactly. We’ve tentatively designated the four machines as Unit 2, Unit 3, Unit 4, and Unit 5.]

Unit 1… would be Siegfried.

But there was a considerable amount of ore containing feather magic crystals, right?

I don’t know how deep it really was, but since Siegfried was buried under it, it must have been at least ten meters.

When the test excavation team discovered Siegfried, they estimated the depth to be about fifty meters.

Wouldn’t it be difficult for just the members who went on the investigation this time to dig that much out?

[That part was thanks to Yoru’s efforts…]

Brute force?

[No. We used the airship to transport the ore out.]

I see.

[Also, since there were ores containing feather magic crystals on-site… we used them to produce floating gas and lifted them with small balloons.]

Oh.

That’s clever.

[We received a great deal of help from the spiderling-donos, the angels, and the test excavation team.]

Understood.

I’ll make sure to express my thanks as well.

[Please do.]

How did the devils and dream demons from Village Four do, as part of the investigation crew?

[Of course, they worked hard. But that was their assigned task, after all. I’ve already praised them myself.]

Still, I can’t just let that go.

They took on a job different from their usual duties.

I’ll thank them personally too.

[Understood. Thank you very much.]

And finally… how was Yoru?

[She did her best. When she declared she was going to dig up every last piece of ore from the dump site, I wasn’t sure what to do.]

I see.

[The intensity she had was like that of an explorer who knows there’s treasure waiting to be found…]

And she actually did find something.

[It would be nice if she could channel that passion into her assigned work though.]

Don’t be too hard on her.

She’s not doing her regular job right now anyway.

Yoru’s original responsibility is overseeing armament management in Village Four.

But the job she’s doing now is serving as the gatekeeper for the teleportation gate at the hot spring area.

It’s not a good match for her.

[Don’t worry about it. She complains, but in the end, she seems to be enjoying it.]

Really?

[Yes. If she didn’t, she’d have handed it off to someone else and run away.]

Someone else… like Tou?

Tou wanted to be the captain of the universal ship and passed the gatekeeper role to Yoru.

[Exactly. Technically, that kind of thing isn’t proper, but…]

No, no.

It’d be worse if someone burned out from doing a job that doesn’t suit them.

Got it.

You make sure not to hold back either, Bell.

[I’m already given a fair amount of freedom. I have no complaints.]

Then that’s fine.

Ah…so, about Yoru…

Bell and I looked over at Yoru, who was slumped at a table a short distance away.

-0-

After recovering the two humanoid multipurpose mobile units they had left behind and returning to the village, Yoru collapsed.

When she woke up, one of the mobile units was up and running.

Yoru had apparently ridden one at the site where they were discovered, but it hadn’t moved at all back then.

When she pressed the mountain elves for an explanation as to why it hadn’t worked, it turned out that Yuri knew the answer.

[With old machines like this, they won’t operate if there’s too much magic power.]

So, either you have to consciously suppress your magic power, or wear a pilot suit that regulates it.

That’s what Yuri explained before hopping back into the mobile unit and taking it for another ride.

Yoru nodded in understanding and got into a different unit, but it wouldn’t move.

Not even a twitch.

The angels and high elves couldn’t get them to budge either.

The mountain elves managed to get them to shuffle a bit, but that was all.

[Pilot suit!]

Yoru shouted and started digging through the spare parts, but couldn’t find one.

Of course she couldn’t.

They had prioritized recovering parts for the mobile units over things like that.

Apparently, even though clothing items had been available back there, nobody paid them any attention.

Yoru lamented.

But as luck would have it…

Yes, truly by luck, one of the spiderlings had brought back a single outfit to use as a design reference.

When Loo examined it, she discovered that it suppressed the wearer’s magic power. It was confirmed to be a pilot suit.

Yoru begged the spiderlings and borrowed the pilot suit to wear.

Then she got into the mobile unit.

But it still didn’t move.

Yoru shouted in frustration, and those around her could only think ‘well, of course’.

The pilot suit she was wearing was made for a man and was far too big.

Even I, with no deep understanding of magic power, could easily guess the problem…her excess magic power was leaking out through the loose gaps in the suit.

-0-

And so, Yoru slumped over the table.

She probably couldn’t bring herself to say ‘Let’s go one more time’.

Maybe Bell had stopped her…

[Let her be like that for a while. She’s been pushing herself too hard lately.]

…Got it.

Well, I guess we’ll have to go retrieve the pilot suits at some point, when the timing is right.

-0-

Yuri:[Why too much magic power causes it to not work will be explained next time!]