The Land of the Rising Sun Transfers to Another World

Chapter 71: The Hardique Empire's Aims

Thanks for the super long wait.

The content might not seem worth the wait, but...

- ワイアード

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Nakanotori Bay offshore, Nakanotori Peninsula

Under the Yatagarasu's guidance, the harbor finally came into view after a full day. Amidst anxiety and tension, Sirius, who had been unable to sleep soundly throughout the night, was about to face the great gamble that awaited him.

"Hehehe... This negotiation will lead our nation to great growth."

After a while, they drew closer to the harbor, and the situation became clearer. The harbor was filled with countless trade ships from other countries, transport ships, and vessels meant to carry envoys. Sirius anticipated that Japan must be connected with many nations through trade, with an abundance of goods.

"Hmm... Well, it is the country that defeated the Thestania Empire. I suppose they must have some sort of connection—huh!?"

Suddenly, he looked in a direction other than the harbor and was shocked. It wasn't just him—everyone aboard the steamship Carma stared in disbelief.

"W-what is that!?"

From the 2 o'clock position of the Carma, the destroyer Kirishima appeared. And from one of its ships, a voice through a speaker could be heard, just like earlier from the Yatagarasu.

"Please continue under our guidance from here!"

The ship was larger and faster than even the Carma. The Kirishima quickly overtook the steamship, aligning her speed and gradually slowing down.

"How can that ship slow down so quickly!? ...No, before that, there are no paddles or sails... How is it moving!?"

Sirius, along with the sailors who knew ships well, unconsciously voiced their honest thoughts aloud.

"How is that ship moving? ...It's not steam-powered..."

"Also, that ship has far more metal mass than the Carma, so how is it moving so fast?"

"I don't understand the mechanism... Is it powered by some kind of new magic ore?"

Sirius called over one of his country's mages nearby.

"Henry, can you sense any magic from that ship?"

The mage, Henry, answered with a troubled expression.

"I... I'm sorry, but I cannot sense any wind magic or anything of the sort from that ship. I even used the special magic wave detector..."

"So, there was no reaction?"

Henry nodded quietly. Seeing this, sweat dripped down Sirius' cheek. If no magic was involved, the only possible explanation was that it had been created using purely technological means.

"Impossible! ...Could such a backwater country have developed something like this... but—"

"Hey! Look around!"

"!"

Sirius turned toward the direction the sailor had pointed, and to his astonishment, he realized he had been so focused on the Kirishima that he hadn't noticed the scene at the harbor.

At a slightly distant spot, there was an enormous iron ship. It was a "container ship" carrying goods from Japan. Cargo containers were being unloaded from the ship onto the dock via a gantry crane. The sailors gasped in awe, and one of them asked Sirius.