On our journey to protect the mermaids in Samandour Kingdom, the return trip is half the time compared to the outbound trip. When we arrived at the Sanctuary, the kids all ran back home. They’d probably talk about the trip and the Sea Serpent.
I hope it would become a good experience for the kids.
「Ah, Takumi, you’ve come back. Welcome back~」
「…… Yep, I’m back. Undine.」
Undine had greeted me in a light tone, but I could see the Elves and Dwarves working hectically.
「………… they increased?」
「Sorry, though it’s not like you mind much. Those children were oppressed in Yggurle Kingdom, and I had invited them.」
Sylph came flying to Undine’s side, informing me of the reason why the Elves increased.
「Ou, you’re back. I asked my apprenticeship senior to come here, but you won’t mind, right?」
「…… Ah, yes.」
「Ou, you’re Takumi? I’m Golan. I’ll be in your care here too. In return, you can call me for anything. I can do anything, from smithing to carpentry, metalworking, and even leather processing.」
A Dwarf older than Doganbo-san pounded my shoulder and gave his greetings. It was at a level that would break a normal person.
Afterwards, Doganbo-san informed me of the reason why the Dwarves had increased.
This time, the new Dwarves in the Sanctuary were all considerably skilled as they had once been apprentices brought up to be craftsmen. Still, they desire to live the remainder of their lives doing what they like. When the rumors spread of the Sanctuary, the land of the Spirits, they wanted to live the rest of their lives in the land where the Great Spirits live.
One of the Dwarves that arrived to the Sanctuary this time was Golan-san, the senior of Doganbo-san, is said to be known as Godcraft in Gnomstoll Kingdom.
With the increase of the Dwarves, the alcohol brewing seemed to be making progress. Not that it really concerns me though.
Since the Elves also increased, the orchard and wine making has been left to them.
It’s all about alcohol. For some reason, everyone is enthusiastic about drinking. Since that probably came from the Great Spirits, it couldn’t be helped so I give up.
The Elves increased by twelve people, and the Dwarves by five. Once merged with Doganbo-san and those after him, there was a total of nine Dwarves, while the Elves, including Melty-san and her kids, numbered at fifteen. And from there, including the Cat Siths, it’s become the scale of a small village.
Well, the increase in skilled Dwarves is a godsend to me so this is good. I can get them to help me design the ship.
「So, Undine, what about the Mermaids that live in different waters from the ones we sheltered this time?」
「……hm~m, it seems there’s monster activity everywhere. Damages done by ferocious monsters are already emerging. I’d like for Takumi to save them if possible, but as you would expect, making numerous round trips would be difficult.」
According to Undine, damages incurred by monsters who’ve become active have already been turning up. She wants to protect those Mermaids, but she thinks it’d be hard to physically transport them here.
The Mermaids living in the southern oceans of Samandour Kingdom numbered roughly two hundred individuals. The Mermaids residing in the ocean close to the Sanctuary are being guided by the Water Spirits. The current Sanctuary has spread its barrier quite far on the seaward side too, it wouldn’t pose a problem even if several hundred Mermaids migrate there.
「That’s our reason, but the ocean in the southern continent is far from safe, so I would like to protect them.」
「I don’t know if I can do it, but I’ll try giving it some thought.」
「Thank you, Takumi. Normally, compensation is needed when making a request from Spirits, but I will be in your debt. I will help you if you need help someday, Takumi.」
Greeting Laeva who stayed at home, I then received a report on the delivery of potions and the like. Maria, Marnie, and Lulu-chan went to clean the house that had been left unattended during our absence.
Afterwards, Doganbo-san, Golan-san, Gnome, Undine, Laeva, and I gathered at our workshop to discuss the ship. Even though I didn’t need an escort, Sophia being by my side had become the norm.
「So what did you want to talk about? It’s quite rare for you to call even Gnome and me.」
「Yeah, it’s about the Mermaids you had talked about, Undine. I was thinking of making a ship that could carry two hundred people, but what do you think?」
「My, so you’re thinking about it so soon.」
Undine took my hand, shaking it around in delight.
「…………Hmm, a ship that wouldn’t lose to the large monsters inhabiting the ocean, huh. That’s a difficult problem, isn’t it, Golan-niisan?」
「What’re you sayin’. It’s because it’s difficult that it’s interesting.」
Doganbo-san folded his arms, pondering over it, but Golan-san’s eyes sparkled, seemingly full of eagerness.
「So, it’ll become quite a large ship, but I’d like to start the designing immediately.」
I gave an itemized list of things we need to consider, like the size of the ship, the development of the propulsion system and controllable pitch propeller (CPP), the armor of the hull, and armaments.
「What is a controllable pitch propeller!?」
I talked about the mechanism and purpose of the CPP.
「By the gods! A ship that travels without using sails!」
「Takumi, give me a rough blueprint of the CPP! And can you let me and Golan-niisan do it?」
「I will make the finer and detailed components in necessary parts, so may I leave the rest to you?」
「Leave it to me!」
Doganbo-san pounded on his chest.
「Listen Takumi, the southern mine will cover the magic iron and mithril. The adamantite and orichalcum are still scare and have some ways to go.」
「Then should we use magic steel and mithril alloy for the hull?」
「Takumi-sama, when considering magic resistance, I believe it would be better to attach monster materials for the hull’s armor.」
「Indeed so.」
「Then wouldn’t it be excellent if we use a Sea Dragon’s leather and scale? I think its size would be more than enough too.」
「Is there even a Sea Dragon close by?」
When we were talking about monster materials for the armor, Undine asked what we think of Sea Dragons.
Sea Dragons are gigantic aquatic dragon type monsters whose length goes over 100m. The Sea Serpent we defeated is like a baby in comparison as it has a remarkable difference with its status as a dragon.
「Will that be alright? Sure, I have no objections to the armor of the hull if it’s a Sea Dragon, ………… but it’s a Sea Dragon, you know?」
「Leave it to me, it is for my retainers this time. I will cooperate. Sophia, you understand, don’t you?」
「Eh, y-yes. I will do my best.」
It seems Undine will display the power of a Great Spirit with Sophia’s Spirit Magic. If that’s the case, we’ll have no problems even if we hunt Sea Dragons. She’s a Great Spirit, after all.
「Then we’ll be attaching the Sea Dragon’s leather and scales on the exterior of the hull. We’ll also use its bones and magic stone.」
「Also, I think we can also use the Sea Serpent materials for the interior and part of the exterior.」
「Ah, we do also have a Sea Serpent.」
Afterwards, when I talked about the harbor and shipbuilding dock with Gnome, he said that he will have these constructed by the Dwarves with free hands.
「Please make the the shipbuilding dock large.」
「Fumu, entrust it to me.」
Gnome immediately got off his seat and left.
「Now then, about the design of the ship…………」
We started on the design of the large ship.
Humans, Dwarves, Beastkins, Elves, and Spirits have joined forces and the plan to make a ship that wouldn’t lose to the menace of monsters of the ocean has begun.
***