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What I want isn’t a cutting-edge airship. I never expected that much anyway, and an airship that looks modern wouldn’t be of any help in hunting.

“Do you even know how hard what you’re saying is?!”

“That’s your problem.”

Last time you made a colossal machine without a hitch. Why are you whining this time?

“Do you even understand how difficult it is to gather materials?!”

The fact that we’re already talking about materials means we can create it if we have them.

“It seems you’re under some delusion that you have the right to refuse?”

“…….”

If you’re going to be kept in prison forever, and I need you out, you have to follow my orders.

Otherwise, it’s back to prison. But you whining like a little slave is starting to get on my nerves.

“I’m not soft like the dwarves, so it’s your neck that might come off first before I end up in prison.”

“Are you threatening me?”

Yep, that’s right.

“And isn’t this a good opportunity for you? You can be an official since those pesky guys are out of the way, so why are you resisting?”

Do you think becoming an official is that easy? Do you know how many people studied just to be an official in their past lives?

“…Even if I end up making it, all I’ll get is more ridicule.”

“Ugh, why do you keep whining? Just make it already. Why are you so concerned about what others think?”

I get that your self-esteem is low, but don’t waste my precious time with it.

So the dwarf reluctantly nodded.

“…Alright. I’ll give it a shot.”

*

The materials the dwarf asked us to gather were plentiful, but if you had to pick the hardest one, it would undoubtedly be levitating stone.

– The most important is levitating stone.

– Where do you get it?

– I don’t know.

– Are you out of your mind?

So we first gathered information about the levitating stone and then went to collect it.

Collecting stones floating in the sky was difficult but not impossible. After all, we had Luna who could fly.

Normally, due to weight and volume, you wouldn’t be able to carry a large quantity at once, but since they float, the volume was practically nonexistent, and I had the legendary oppressive tech called Inventory, allowing me to bring back a ton as if I were burying them alive.

Besides the levitating stone, we gathered all the materials they asked for. We were going to raid an S-Rank monster, so there was no way we couldn’t gather materials for an airship.

So I told them to not disturb me since it would take time to make, and to just kill some time.

Thinking about the size of the airship, it was only natural that it would take a while to make. Still, even a colossal machine that could destroy a kingdom was made alone in a few years, so how long could it take to just make a means of transportation like an airship?

Of course, a few months isn’t short, but since I had things to prepare, I was gradually getting ready, and time flew by.

Exactly four months later, when we had completed all preparations, we gathered again in Marquina.

Since we couldn’t build such a large airship in Marquina, we used the abandoned mine where we had previously constructed the colossal machine’s framework.

“Is this it?”

“Yep. My own creation. I worked through countless nights making it.”

Before us was a massive airship covered with a large cloth, still unopened.

“This is a moment to remember in history, so keep your eyes wide open!”

The dwarf grabbed the cloth with both hands and pulled it off. Then an amazing sight of the airship appeared…

“…A little help here.”

“…”

He almost succeeded, but due to the dwarf’s short arms and legs, he couldn’t manage to remove the cloth.

Of course, trying to pull down something that big by hand wouldn’t work.

Reluctantly, we helped, and finally, the airship revealed itself.

It had the form of a large boat.

While it was mostly made of wood, critical areas were reinforced with iron for defense. Several oars for moving forward and backward were visible on the side of the boat.

Instead of the huge balloon that was supposed to be on top, a massive amount of levitating stone was installed at the bottom, enabling it to float in the air, but right now, it was tied down with a thick rope.

If you looked closely, it was already slightly above the ground.

“This is the means of transportation in Luke’s world…”

“It’s incredible…”

“Wow! It’s huge!”

Everyone reacted differently to the airship they were seeing for the first time.

Honestly, I wasn’t seeing it for the first time, and it didn’t feel like such a great achievement, but in this world, it was undoubtedly a historical accomplishment.

“The defense system is made of steel alloy, not just regular iron. While it does add some weight, it increases defense, and with all the levitating stone, it’s not a problem.”

The dwarf placed his tiny arms on his hips proudly.

“So, when can we set off?”

“Is that your only reaction after seeing this?”

I might have a better reaction to something supernatural rather than modern inventions!

“We can leave right now.”

“Then let’s not drag this out any longer and set off immediately.”

We had already wasted four months making this airship; it was time to go. We climbed the ladder attached to the side of the airship and boarded the deck.

On the airship, there was a door leading inside and various weapons, something resembling a cannon.

“What’s behind that door?”

“Just a resting area. The temperature drops as we ascend. Without that, we’d freeze to death before we could do anything.”

That’s definitely true. Now that we successfully took off, we needed to find the cumulonimbus where Balarain could be.

But who knows how long that will take? No matter how well you can see, the world is vast.

“You have a good sense.”

“Hmm. If I couldn’t handle this much, I wouldn’t be able to call myself a dwarf.”

The dwarf headed toward the helm.

“Everyone, hold on tight! We’re taking off!”

As the dwarf pulled the lever beside the helm down, the sound of machinery clicking into place echoed as the sails unfurled. At the same time, the airship slowly began to rise.

The airship flew high into the sky and soon reached the clouds.

“Aah~”

“What are you doing…?”

“I want to taste the clouds!”

Surprised by her first encounter with clouds, Yui tried to taste one and soon ended up sulking when she realized it had no flavor.

This girl really was born in the right era. She looks like she would follow a stranger who offers her snacks.

“Ha ha ha! I did it! I really did it!!”

The dwarf laughed heartily as his airship successfully flew into the sky.

Sure, let him enjoy it. He made the world’s first airship, so it’s like he’s the Wright brothers in history.

The ride in the airship was better than any other means of transportation I had used in this world. Since we weren’t riding on unpaved roads, there was no shaking, and I didn’t feel nauseous like when I teleported.

As the dwarf turned the helm, the sound of machinery echoed again, and the airship’s head turned in a new direction.

‘If there were a few more like him, civilization would have progressed much faster.’

This is why the old folks are problematic. They’re blocking progress at every turn.

Leaving behind the dwarf, who was clinging to the helm like a child with a new toy, we went inside the airship.

Inside were tables and beds. A literal resting place.

There wasn’t anything like a refrigerator, so there was no food, but we could always land and stock up. Besides, I had a month’s worth of meat in my inventory, so it didn’t matter.

Just as I was about to rest on the bed, thinking that all I had to do now was wait, the dwarf who had been at the helm came in.

“So, you had me make this, but what are you planning to do with it?”

“Hunting the S-Rank monster.”

“…What?!”

The dwarf was taken aback. And rightly so.

‘We’re… partners!’ Who would be okay with an immediate life-or-death request to hunt an S-Rank monster? That’s only possible in movies; if you tried that in reality, you’d lose even the few friends you had.

So I didn’t say anything to the dwarf.

“Wasn’t this supposed to be used for transportation?”

“Is there any reason to make something like this when you have teleports and other obsolete means of transport?”

Of course, in my previous life, airplanes were the fastest means of transport, but that was only because teleportation was absent. If teleportation existed, that would undoubtedly be the best means of transport.

“…I didn’t hear anything like that.”

Yep~ too late now~ If you want to go back, leave the airship and jump off. Just don’t expect a parachute!

*

The wind was strong in the sky, pushing the airship along at a good speed. Around a week had passed since we boarded the airship.

“Hey! Everyone, come out!”

Waking up inside the airship, we headed outside at the dwarf’s call. What we saw was a large gathering of clouds.

In the distance, we spotted a massive cumulonimbus.

Swallow. I could hear dry gulps echoing from somewhere. Everyone seemed tense.

“Is that what you were looking for?”

“Looks like it.”

After a long journey, we finally spotted the cumulonimbus.

But how do we confirm if Balarain is inside? Could it just be a coincidental cumulonimbus?

Those doubts soon vanished.

Lightning erupted inside the cumulonimbus, revealing the shadow of something massive.

It soon broke through the clouds as if shattering a shell.

A face with no eyes or nose but only a mouth. Instead of wings, there were three pairs of tentacle-like appendages spraying lightning.

Shortly after recognizing us, Balarain let out a roar.

-Gwaaaaaaah────────!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

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