Magicraft Meister Part 1

December 2.

Jin asked Christophe how he planned to get in and out.

"Well, I was thinking we could use the ladder.

I knew it, Jin thought. But that would make loading and unloading of luggage a hassle.

"I think we should get a ramp."

A ramp?

"Oh, a ramp is ......."

Jin then explained about the ramp.

"I see, we need to prepare a sturdy object at the port where cargo is handled and put it over the ship. For ships, foldable ones are provided so that personnel can use them.

The one to be prepared at the port was immediately approved at Christophe's discretion.

The question of loading them on the ship will be discussed when the final outfitting is confirmed.

The remaining problem is navigation.

Jin discussed this with Christophe.

"Well, how do we know where we are?

How can we do that on the sea, where there are no landmarks? Kristoff could imagine.

"...... is difficult."

For the time being, I don't plan to go so far out to sea that I can't see land, Christophe said.

In other words, we will always have land in sight and will sail along the coastline.

"That's all well and good, but what if there is a current, or fog, or night, and we can't see land?"

"Ummm ......"

Christophe's question stumped him.

"Okay. Let's have a meeting first thing this afternoon."

Christophe said that the ship should be 90% finished in the morning, so he would have time in the afternoon.

Jin also said that he would have his thoughts together by then and left the meeting.

"Now, a prototype azimuth magnet. ......"

Jin decided to go with the simplest experiment and instructed the old man to prepare for it.

* * * *

As planned, 90% of the work on the ship was completed, and after lunch, the members of the team convened in the conference room first thing in the afternoon.

There, Christophe explained what Jin had proposed in the morning.

"I see, a ramp. ......"

"It's necessary to put it in the port. It would be useful to have it on the ship as well."

All of them immediately recognized the need for it and unanimously decided to add it.

The problem is navigation.

"......First of all, think about what you would do if everything around you was in the ocean and you didn't know which way to go."

Jin offered such a suggestion to stimulate the imagination.

"Fuumu......"

"In the daytime, you can see the sun. ......"

Claire interrupted Magi Engineer Xenelos as he was about to say this.

"You idiot. What if it's cloudy or foggy?"

"Gu,m ......"

"What if it's cloudy or foggy?" "What if we look at the stars at night?"

Claire said sharply.

"I heard that there is a star in the northern sky that doesn't change its position all night long and it is called Polaris.

It seems that even in this world, there are those who are interested in the stars and are trying to find the North Star.

"If we could find it, it would be a good indicator of our direction. If we are going along the south coast, we will hit land if we head north.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"But if it's cloudy at night, we won't be able to see the stars, will we?"

"Sure, but what if it's cloudy at night? ...... Is there any magic tool that can tell the direction anytime and anywhere?"

Hearing these words, Jin immediately responded.

"Yes, there is.

"What?"

Everyone ...... looked at Jin at once, although Erza and Reinhardt probably knew what he was talking about.

"There's a thing called a compass.

"What's a compass?"

A magnet?　Is it that thing that sticks to iron?

Claire, Rodrigo, and Couwald had never heard of a magnet. On the other hand, Christophe and Xenelos seem to know at least what a magnet is.

"I heard that there is a stone that tries to stick to iron only.

What Kristof is probably talking about is magnetite. It is a type of iron ore that occurs as a natural magnet.

That's it. Here is a powerful magnet.

Jin pulled out a bar-shaped magnet made in Bongnae Island from his pocket. It was made by adding nickel, aluminum, and copper to iron, a material similar to MK magnet steel.

This was the only magnet steel that Jin knew of, and he did not know of alnico magnets or rare earth magnets, but this was strong enough.

"With this, you rub a steel needle, stick it in a leaf, and float it in water," he said.

This is an experiment with magnets sometimes done in elementary schools. Originally, a sewing needle was supposed to be stuck into a piece of paper to float on the water, but since there was no paper, the needle was stuck into a dead leaf.

"Hmmm ...... Hohoho!"

The floating needle pointed north and south and stopped. Even if I change the direction of the needle, it always points to the north-south direction at the end.

"I didn't know that magnets have such a property. ...... Jin-dono, how did you know this?"

Christophe looks surprised.

He must not have had much scientific education by Fuhrer. Probably because he is busy with practical work.

"This is <>. I learned it from my mentor. Please do not tell me the name of your teacher.

Jin added a few words so that he would not be pursued for further questioning.

"Mmmmmm...so you can find out the direction anytime, anywhere by applying this!"

Christophe's face lit up with joy. He must have realized that this could be used not only at sea, but also on land.

"But as you know, it is attracted to iron, so it will not be accurate if there is iron nearby.

"Yes, that's true. But this new ship has no iron parts, so we should be fine.

Iron tends to rust easily, so bronze and light silver were used in this case. Of course, this was also because Jin had hinted at this through Reinhardt on the first day.

"If we float them in oil instead of water, the needles will not rust.

"If you seal it up with clear crystal or something, the oil won't spill even if the ship shakes.

"It would be nice if we could make it bigger so it would be easier to see.

Various opinions were expressed, such as "It would be nice if we could make it bigger so it would be easier to see.

The meeting ended with the decision that Reinhardt and Erza would make the ramp and Jin would make the azimuth magnet.

Since there was still some time left, everyone except Jin, Reinhard, and Erza went to finish the ship.

"Reiko, help me!"

"Yes, Father."

Reiko glanced sideways at Erza, who was looking at Jin as if she wanted to say something, and hurriedly followed him out of the room.

"......"

Reinhardt consoles Erza, who is looking somewhat downhearted.

"Erza, don't burn the rice cakes for Reiko.

"No, I'm not burning ...... anything."

Erza puts her hand on her cheek in a panic.

"You're not convincing even if you deny it with a red face.

"Ah,......."

Reinhardt smiles at Erza and offers words of comfort.

"For Jin, he's probably immersed in his work because he can't be sticky even if he wanted to because of this environment.

"Sticky? ......"

But Elsa is turning redder and redder.

"Haha, sorry. What I'm trying to say is that Jin must be feeling lonely too. The only time we get to talk is at dinner. Besides, Jin doesn't do that kind of thing in public, does he?"

"......Yes, that's true."

"I know you want to finish the boat and get out of here as soon as possible. I haven't seen Belle for a long time.

"...... Rai, you ruined it at the end."