When Jin and the others reached the edge of the Torres River, dawn was finally breaking.
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"Ah, I'm so tired.
Jin sat down on a rock on the bank. Erza also sat down.
"Aren't you tired?"
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Jin said, and Elsa nodded her head.
"Yeah. A little."
The expression on her face, visible in the dim light, seemed to indicate that she was not only tired but also harboring something more complex.
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"Is something bothering you?"
When Jin asked her that, Erza said with a sad look on her face.
"If only Meane were here..."
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Hearing this, Jin asked Erza.
"You put Erza in danger by making her run away from home, and you're worried about her?
"I ran away from home because I wanted to. I'm sorry I put her in danger. I think it's my fault that she ran away from home because I wanted her to.
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Elsa turns her head. Tears welled up in her eyes. Jin tried to comfort her,
"Meine is safe," he said.
She said, "Meine is safe.
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"What?
"I found Meine in the water, and that's why I started looking for Erza. She was badly injured, but she's fine now. She's in the care of a trusted healer. I'll let you see her when she's a little better."
Tears welled up in Erza's eyes with joy as Jin briefly explained Meene's condition.
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"Meine, you're alive. ......"
Seeing Erza murmuring happily, Jin was glad that he had saved her.
After a short rest, Jin and Erza start walking again. It is now quite light. The area is covered with river mist.
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After walking for a while, they came to a wider area.
It was about 6 meters wide, wide enough for two carriages to run side by side.
"I wonder if we can land here.
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Jin looked around and muttered to himself. Reiko heard him and said,
"Don't worry," she said.
and looked up at the sky.
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"Okay."
Reiko gives an instruction on the manacam.
"Pelican 1, come here!"
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"What? You called not only Raptor but also Pelican?
Reiko looks at Jin in surprise,
"Yes, Lao Tzu told me that you might need them in case you need them".
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Jin nodded his head and said, "Yes, Lao Tzu said that we might need it. Jin nodded his head,
"I see, you are right. Then, Elsa, please come to the edge of the room. ...... that's right."
"?"
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Erza, not understanding what was going on, followed Jin's instruction and moved to the edge of the embankment. Then a black shadow descended from the sky.
What?
Erza braces herself, but Jin says to her..,
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"Don't worry. That's a plane I made.
He tells her. Erza looked at Jin in surprise.
"An airplane?"
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Before Jin could say anything in reply, the Pelican 1 burst through the fog and landed just within the width of the embankment. The landing legs are almost overhanging the embankment.
"This is ...... flight."
Yeah, that's the Pelican 1. Come on, get in."
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With that, Jin went up the ramp first, turned around, and held out his hand to Elsa.
Fearful of seeing an airplane for the first time, Elsa was pulled up the ramp by Jin's hand.
"Oh ......"
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From Erza's point of view, the inside of the plane was not much different from Jin's carriage. This made her feel a little relieved.
"Come on, sit down and put your belt on.
Jin put Elsa in the window seat and helped her put on the seatbelt.
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"What's this?
"It's a safety belt to keep you from being thrown out of the chair when the plane shakes.
With these words, Jin also took a seat in front of Elsa and fastened his seat belt.
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Reiko, who had come along for the ride, was not even sitting in her seat.
"Okay, let me out."
"Okay."
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At the controls is Sky 1, the head of the Air Force Golem.
With a whoosh and a suck of air, Pelican 1 is in motion.
"Ah, ah, ah."
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Suddenly the Pelican 1 starts to move, and Elsa is confused by the G's as it starts up.
"It's okay."
Jin turned around and told Erza briefly. Erza calmed down at Jin's words and had time to look out the window.
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"Wow, that's amazing."
After a short glide, Pelican 1 floated up. I felt that momentary sense of lift.
Then the nose of the Pelican 1 lifts, and it gains altitude rapidly. It cuts through the river fog and immediately flies out into the clear space.
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"We're flying. ......"
Elsa's body begins to tremble. For the first time in her life, she is flying, and in a vehicle she never thought possible.
"So don't worry. I'm right here with you."
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Jin loosens his seatbelt and pats Erza on the head. Elsa gave him a ticklish look, but her trembling seemed to subside.
Pelican 1 climbs to about 3,000 meters and heads east. White clouds were below. Mountains, rivers, forests, lakes, cities, and villages are all visible.
As Elsa became accustomed to flying, she was transfixed by the sight.
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"This is amazing. This is the world seen from the sky.
She presses her forehead against the window and looks down. Pelican 1, flying at a little over 300 kilometers an hour, was over the ocean in about two hours.
"Oh, is that the Elias Peninsula? And if so, is that Io?"
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Jin's heart warms at the sight of Elsa, who is more excited than ever. If only she could forget the shock of being kidnapped, even if only temporarily. That's what he thinks.
Then, the ocean spread out as far as the eye could see, and a large island came into view.
"That's Horai Island," Jin explained.
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Jin explained.
"That's where my real home is, my base."
"Hourai Island...... is Jin's home."
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Erza stares intently.
Pelican 1 is slowly descending.
"Erza, it's going to be a little bumpy when we land, so I need you to sit up properly."
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"Yes, sir."
Erza obediently listened to Jin.
The Pelican 1 landed on the runway in front of the institute.
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"Welcome to Horai Island."
Jin, who landed first, said as he held out his hand to Erza who was coming down the ramp.
"Thank you for your hospitality."
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Erza's cheeks were a little red as she answered.
"Welcome home, my lord. Welcome home, Miss Elsa.
Laozi's terminal greeted her. She was the perfect butler.
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"Who is it?"
Lao-tzu introduced himself before Jin could answer Elsa's question.
"I'm sorry I'm late. My name is Lao Tzu and I am in charge of this Horai Island.
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Then he made a beautiful bow. He is more splendid than Jin, the source of his knowledge.
"You must be tired, so please take a bath and have a meal first.
He takes a bath as Lao Tzu recommends. As I had expected, there were already separate bathrooms for men and women. Lao-tzu is a master of his art.
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Jin was accompanied by Reiko, and Erza by Soleil and Luna.
* * * * * * * * * * *
"Phew!"
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Jin, who had been working all night, soaked his limbs in the warm hot spring and stretched them out.
"Reiko, thank you."
He says to Reiko, who is soaking in the hot spring with him.
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"No, I didn't do much this time.
"That's not true. Reiko as a organizer, and Reiko who supports me. Without you it would have taken much more time.
Yes, thank you.
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"I know Elsa has been through a lot, be nice to her."
...... Yes, I'll try."
* * * *
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......
"Miss Elsa, how's the hot water?"
"Oh, it's fine. Just right.
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"Miss Elsa, let me wash your back."
"Hmm. Thank you."
Soleil and Luna are entertaining Erza.
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The sky of Horai Island is clear and blue, free from the ambitions of the Unifilers and the aristocrats' desire for success.