Magicraft Meister Part 1

The 2nd of February.

It was snowing from the morning. The outside thermometer on Capricorn 1 read minus 30 degrees Celsius.

"Jin-dono, please be careful."

Erza-sama, please be careful.

Saki, take care.

Nothing is said about Zion. It seems that there is still a gap between the clans among them.

Theon himself does not say anything about it, as if he takes it for granted.

Capricorn 1 walks out into the blizzard, but his legs are buried in the snow and he can only reach a speed of about 10 km/h (10 mph).

(There is a force field generator if the need arises. ...... Well, let's just keep going.)

Jin did not give any instructions since there was no inconvenience.

The mountains loomed to the north from the clan territory of the Gospel. Capricorn 1 slowly climbed up the mountain.

"That's great. ......"

Zion, who is finally getting back to his normal self, says admiringly as he looks out the window.

Outside the window, a blizzard is roaring, but occasionally we can see frozen rock faces and standing trees that look like monsters made of snow and ice, giving us an idea of the kind of slope we are climbing.

"Snow Monster or ......"

Hitoshi was reminded of the wintertime tradition of juhyō (樹氷), a type of ice formation on Zao and Hakkōda mountains. He had only seen them on TV, though.

What I saw in front of me was even more impressive than that, a huge ice tree.

"That's amazing, Jin!　How did they get that shape?

Saki stays by the window, staring out.

Capricorn 1 is now slowly climbing up a slope with an incline of more than 30 degrees.

When he climbed up to the <>, there was no snow.

"It's still difficult when there is snow. ....... I remember that mountain climbing is also more difficult during the snow season.

Jin was thinking of the nature-related documentaries he had seen when he was on Earth.

The slope at the foot of Capricorn 1 is now more than 45 degrees.

Since it was difficult to climb straight up, Lando 1, who was in charge of piloting Capricorn 1, had it climb in a zigzag pattern.

"Are you okay?"

Although the balancer and stabilizer are equipped, it sometimes tilts greatly, which makes Zion uneasy.

Jin thinks that with the force field generator, he can jump over this slope, but he also wants to know the limits of Capricorn 1, so he plans to climb up the slope by walking alone.

"If you can't make it this far, you won't be able to go any further.

As Jin said this, one of his legs slipped.

"Aah!"

Zion turns blue. But he only tensed up a little.

Capricorn 1 shook a little, but regained its balance and began to climb again.

After an hour, they finally reached the ridge.

But a white storm was brewing again, and visibility was almost zero. The outside thermometer was frozen at minus 40 degrees Celsius.

"Land 1, any glitches?"

"Yes, there are no operational problems. However, the spikes on the soles of the feet are not good enough. It works well on ice, but it doesn't catch fresh snow."

"I see. ......"

When climbing snow-covered mountains, crampons, which are made of steel or other materials, are attached to shoes to prevent slipping, but they are not very effective in fresh snow or deep snow, in which case tools such as snowshoes or snowshoes are used.

"I should have been able to change the area of the sole or take out the claw if necessary. ......"

As you can imagine, such modifications are not possible now.

I decide to have lunch while letting him walk, since he is likely to freeze if he stops.

"I'm glad we'll have something warm to eat this time," he said.

Zion recalled that he had been disappointed last time because he had been eating only portable and preserved foods.

While they were eating, Capricorn 1 continued on its way.

Now it was going downhill.

"Be careful! I have heard that the downhill is more difficult in mountain climbing.

"Yes, sir."

Land-1 answered shortly and carefully maneuvered the boat. Land 1 answered shortly and carefully maneuvered the boat, choosing a place where the slope was as gentle as possible.

The only reason he is able to keep his bearings in this blizzard of right and left is thanks to Sky 1 and Falcon 1, who are supporting him above the ...... clouds.

"Whenever you are in danger, use the force field generator."

Yes, Master.

Our choice of route paid off, and we were able to descend smoothly without slipping or falling.

Jin and the others are relieved when the slope slackens.

"If we continue north, we will reach Chikagwa Lake, right?

"Yes, that's what you said. But are you okay?

What?

"It's a lake, but it's probably frozen over in this cold. If there is snow on top of it, it would be hard to tell which is the lake, wouldn't it?

Zion voiced his concern.

"Yes, that may be so."

"Right?　If you get on that kind of ice, won't it crack under the weight and fall into the water?"

"That would be fine."

"Why not?"

"Because the lake will be one step lower and flatter, you'll see. I'll be careful, though."

"I see. ......"

Jin, who was having this conversation with Zion, noticed that Saki was quiet.

"Saki, is something wrong?"

"Uh, yeah?　Yeah, I was just thinking about something. ......

"About what?"

"Well, I was showing Mr. Alexas some things and a question just popped into my head. ......"

Saki spoke slowly.

"It doesn't have to be limited to metal ......, but let's say it is metal for now. What determines its strength?

"I see."

"...... density?"

Jin nodded his head and Erza gave her opinion. Indeed, adamantite, which is renowned as the strongest metal, has a specific gravity of 19.3.

"No, then, even gold and lead should be stronger than adamantite.

Gold has a specific gravity of 19.3. Lead has a specific gravity of 11.3. Iron is 7.9, copper 8.6, and so on.

"Oh, yes, that's right."

"Yes, density does not determine strength. ......"

Saki's face became difficult again.

"Well, you've talked a lot with Alectus, haven't you?"

"Hmm?　Yes, he is very knowledgeable."

"......Saki is a fatherf*cker after all."

Alectus looks to be in his early 40s, the same age as Saki's father, Tor (42).

"Fazakon?"

"Brother Jin, what's a fuzakon?"

Erza did not seem to have any knowledge of this kind of thing, so she tilted her head and asked Jin. Zion didn't say anything, but looked like he wanted to know.

"I think a fathercon is a person who loves ...... his father and can't easily leave his parents ......."

"Nah. ......."

Saki's face turned red as he explained.

"Yes, it's true that Saki's sister may be a fuzakon.

Erza agreed.

"Well, what about Erza?

"......Erza must have a black love."

"Blacon?"

"So the target would be a brother."

"Oh, no,...... but ...... maybe so."

At first he denied it, but he soon admitted that he was aware of it.

"Well, what about Jin?"

"I don't ...... know."

"Oh, ...... sorry."

Saki apologized, assuming that since Jin was an orphan and had no immediate family, he should not be ...... involved in such sentimentality.

"No, it's ...... nothing."

Jin chuckled, "It was a topic that he himself had brought up in the first place.

"......"

The air was a little heavy, but it was Zion who broke it.

"But Jin has a soft spot for girls, doesn't he?"

Zion's words, which had been kept silent until now, are thrown at me.

"......, I agree. Especially for little girls.

"Well, that may ...... be true."

Jin is a little flustered.

"Do you like ...... little kids?"

"What are you talking about?"

Erza's words made Jin even more puzzled.

What do you call that?　......Fuzzacon, Burakon, or ......Shisukon for short?"

"Ugh."

Thanks to Zion, the air that was about to become heavy dissipated, but was it a good thing or a bad thing?

With a wry smile, Jin wondered what he should say to make his case.