It is quite a distance from the south end of Samandour Kingdom to the western end of the continent. If I’m being honest, I want to teleport back, but there’s too many of us so that’s not possible.
Taking this into consideration, I’d have liked to establish a Gate, but it would be better if I’m a little bit more prudent in having a base at Samandour Kingdom.
When I questioned Fluna-san in detail, there were several more groups of mermaids living in the southern area of the ocean. However, they have no interaction with Fluna-san’s group and were apparently large groups. Still, any group would be troubled by the brutal activity of monsters.
「Aren’t there large ships that wouldn’t lose to monsters?」
「In Samandour Kingdom, there appear to be small trading ships that go to a small continent in the south where Devils(Mazoku) live.」
As expected, Sophia is well informed. The three countries in this continent that face the ocean are Samandour Kingdom, Gnomstoll Kingdom, and Yggurle Kingdom. However, the seaside of Gnomstoll Kingdom is a sheer cliff face with no port. Yggurle Kingdom faces the northern sea, but as it could barely be used for salt-making, it isn’t a terrain that was suited for a port. In this continent, only Samandour Kingdom’s southern seas had several ports and their trade with the continent of the Devils (Mazoku) is said to be profitable.
「If I’m not mistaken, the seas to the west of the Sanctuary seems like a place that could be a port, right?」
「Yes, there should be a bay with deep waters on the southwest side.」
If I remember right, there’s a spot south of the place I think could be for salt-making that looked like it could be used for a port. If it were before the Sanctuary was made, it couldn’t become a port because of the monsters, but since it’s inside the barrier now, it might be alright to make a port with a shipbuilding dock.
「Can’t we make a ship that wouldn’t lose to monsters?」
「………aside from Sea Serpents, the ocean is inhabited by large monsters like Krakens and Sea Dragons. As such, I think the performance we’re looking for is different from Samandour Kingdom who has been operating ships by continuously searching for routes with few monsters for many years.
There are apparently large ships called a Magic Propelled Ships in this world. However, it was an immensely large amount for one company to purchase, and in Samandour Kingdom, they have a system of joint investment by utilizing the country’s subsidiary aid.
I observed the mermaids huddling together inside the space expanded carriage. Should we set up a base in Samandour Kingdom? Or should we make a magic ship ourselves? I couldn’t decide.
It looks like if I use short warp several times over then rest when my magic power dries up, our journey back to the Sanctuary would take half the time.
「Should I try consulting Gnome and Salamander about ship building?」
「Indeed. The Sanctuary’s southern mine is under the control of Gnome-sama. It would be good to ask about what ores could be mined.」
Entrusting the driving to Sophia, I was dead tired inside the carriage. As expected, transporting a carriage filled with this many people is tough, despite only being short distances.
And using the time to recover my magic power, I think about structure and propulsion mechanism of a ship. This world’s magic ships use the concept of blowing wind magic into the affixed sail as the propulsive power. Screw propellers haven’t been invented. It would be great if I could make a controllable screw propeller, but in this world, the propulsion mechanism is a turbine, similar to the gas turbine engine of the Aegis-class cruisers, that uses magic………….
The ship’s armor can’t be average either. I think modern battleships were designed to defend against bombings and control damage by keeping injuries down. If I had to say, this world’s magic ships might be close to the heavy armored battleships of the Pacific War (1941-1945) era.
As I pondered over the ship’s structure and propulsion mechanism, it’s like I had already settled with building the ship, but I can’t help it, I always want to make something since I’m an artisan.
「The construction of large ships in the Sanctuary would intensify the countries’ aggression for it if they find out.」
「As I thought…………, the Sanctuary has Perception Inhibitor MD and the Great Spirits’ barrier, so they can’t infiltrate the Sanctuary, much less confirm what is inside, but that’s not possible for a large ship.」
「Indeed. I believe that the Perception Inhibitor MD is somewhat effective, but it would be difficult to conceal a large ship cutting through waves.」
「I know, right? But would it be enough for avoiding monsters?」
When we return, I’ll discuss and design the large ship with Laeva and Doganbo-san. Whether or not it would be possible to materialize it is something we’ll think about afterwards.
Since I’m saying we’d build a large combat vessel in this continent where battleships do not exist, it would be necessary to ask various people for advice. At any rate, I was wondering if I could build it because, while I’ve ridden ferry-type ships, I’ve only seen destroyers from afar, but I have a feeling that I could probably make it somehow, thanks to my rising level, growing status, and various skills groups.
I’m now looking forward to going back to the Sanctuary.
***