After about three hours of traveling north, Capricorn 1 comes to a stop. A frozen river lay before them. This is where Jin and his crew had lunch.

The surrounding area is a silver world as far as the eye can see. The legs of Capricorn 1 are more than a meter under the snow.

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"The snow is getting heavier and heavier.

Jin muttered as he looked outside.

It really is. It's warm inside, but how cold is it outside?

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"About minus 25 degrees Celsius.

Jin looked at the outside thermometer and answered.

"Uh, thermometer, right?"

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He seemed to have remembered what I had explained to him the last time we boarded the boat. Jin was impressed, as expected of the Morira clan.

"Well, it's a tool that scales the temperature at which water freezes at 0°C and boils at 100°C."

"That's right. But when the temperature reaches minus 40 degrees Celsius or so, it can no longer be used.

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Since mercury is used, it is vulnerable to extremely low temperatures. The freezing point of mercury is -37℃.

Below that temperature, they use colored organic liquids such as pentane, but Jin has not yet been able to produce and separate them.

"Hmm, but it's still useful. That's Jin."

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"Yes, Jin is great."

Erza said and lifted Jin up further.

"Well, let's get going.

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Capricorn 1 starts to move. There was about 20 cm of snow on the ground while we were standing still, but it was shaken off as we started walking.

As before, we cross the river. The river is icy and shallow, so there is no problem at all.

In the evening, we arrived at the residence of the <> clan.

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Since we had recorded our position on our previous visit, the old man guided us to the place.

"Oh, Jin-dono, welcome!

Alektas came out, and he knew that he was Capricorn 1 and that Jin had arrived.

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The cloaking wards he had put up before were not used. However, since the wind-shielding wards are in place, no snow has blown in, and the environment has become quite livable.

The temperature inside the warding was minus 3 degrees Celsius on the outside thermometer, more than 20 degrees Celsius higher than outside.

"It's been a while.

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Jin exits Capricorn 1 and greets the others. Perhaps it was because he was face-to-face, but his words were a little more polite than when he had been in contact with the double doll.

Erza, Saki, and Zion are escorted by Milonia, wife of Alexas.

"What's the matter with you today?"

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"Actually, ......"

Jin explained to Alectus as he was invited in.

"Well, you are looking for the shell of an ancient dragon, aren't you?

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"Have you heard of it?"

"Sure, I've heard of it."

So, we were treated to dinner and asked about it.

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However, Jin had also brought 50 kilograms of flour as a souvenir. Of course, he had it sent from Horai Island via the warp gate.

He asked them to bake bread using this flour, and if they ate it with soup or stew, it would be a luxurious dinner.

"It seems like a bad idea, doesn't it?

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said Milonia.

"That's Jin-sama's fiancée, Erza-san, isn't it? I hear she is an excellent healer. If you don't mind, I was wondering if you could check on my father-in-law later.

By father-in-law, I mean the clan leader, Fabius the Gospel.

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Yes, if it's all right with me.

"By the way, Mr. Fabius is not here, is he sick?

When Jin asked, Milonia nodded with a worried look on her face.

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Yes, since the day before yesterday my back is not feeling well, so I've been lying low.

"...... That's worrisome, isn't it? Well then, after dinner.

I'd like that very much.

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Zion is quiet. Perhaps it is because he is surrounded by the half-legendary clans of the . It seems that the sense of dislike for them does not disappear so easily.

Saki, on the other hand, seems to find everything she sees and hears unusual and keeps gazing around. She is like a visitor.

Then, Alexus spoke to Saki.

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I heard that you are an excellent alchemist, Saki. What kind of things are you interested in?

"Well, I'm still in training. For now, I'm just trying to see and hear all things.

He seemed to like that answer.

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"Well, you are a humble man. Indeed, there is much in this world that we do not understand. Good luck."

"Thank you for ......, sir."

Saki's face is a little red. Saki's face is a little red, as if she is embarrassed.

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The conversation continues. The information I wanted to ask about the ancient dragon.

"I have heard rumors about a dragon that looks like an ancient dragon, and I have heard that it is said to be located further north than here.

The information about the ancient dragon did not change much. However, new information about the land is obtained.

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"If you head further north beyond the <>, you will come to a lake. We call it Lake Chickagwa.

"Is there an ancient dragon there?"

"No, you have to go around it and go further north. No, you have to go around it and go further north, and there is a table-shaped plateau, the Tusulu Plateau, and I have heard that they live near the Gyeltse mountain rising above it.

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That's pretty detailed information. Jin has a topographical map, so it will be easier to calculate the route if he compares the current information with it later.

"Thank you very much for your help. I will go there tomorrow.

"But it blows almost every day in the north during the winter. Please be careful.

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I understand. I will be careful.

We had anticipated such a thing, and had made it for the cold weather.

True to their word, after dinner, Elsa and Jin visited Fabius' apartment. Saki is looking around the residence, guided by Alexas. Zion went back inside Capricorn 1.

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"Oh, Jin-dono, it's been a while. That must be Miss Elsa. I'm Fabius, nice to meet you.

"Elsa. Nice to meet you.

Fabius greeted her as she lay on her bed on her back. He was in great pain when he moved his body.

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Elsa immediately started to examine him, since Milonia had already told her about his condition.

"......You say you have a lot of back pain, don't you?　......<>"

Elsa examines the patient and raises a pensive eyebrow.

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"Yes, you have a compression fracture of the lumbar vertebrae. There seems to be no damage to the spinal cord, so it will heal. ......<>"

Healing is the surgical healing magic to heal fractures.

As we age, calcium metabolism decreases and bone density tends to decrease. In other words, the bones become shredded.

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In such a situation, bones can break if a person is forced to carry heavy objects in an unreasonable posture, or if force is exerted by rapid exercise.

In the case of Fabius, this happened to his spine.

Since there was no trauma to the body, medical healing magic without knowing that it was a surgical disease would only provide temporary relief, but not a fundamental cure.

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But Elsa's treatment was appropriate.

"Finish, sir. "

Finally, the treatment was completed by applying advanced healing magic of the internal medicine system to return the calcium metabolism to as normal as possible.

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"Oh, I feel better. I can move my body."

"Elsa-sama, that's great!　Thank you very much!"

After curing Fabius, Elsa seems to have been upgraded from <> to <>.

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"Please be sure to consume foods that contain calcium."

Elsa recommended small fish, cheese, and beans.

Then, the group chatted amiably with Fabius, who was now fully recovered. Saki and Alexas also returned and joined us.

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Saki was in a good mood, probably having been shown something unusual.

Jin also asked Fabius about the ancient dragon.

"I see, so you have come to look for the shell of this ancient dragon?

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Yes. Yes. Mr. Alexas told me about the location. Capricorn 1 is also well-equipped for the cold, so I will go there tomorrow.

Be careful, it is very cold in the north.

Thank you, sir.

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But Erza, you have great skill for such a young woman. I envy you, Jin-dono."

Thank you very much.

Erza is embarrassed by the praise.

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"Hey, where's Zion?"

Jin notices that Zion is missing and wonders why. Reiko answered him.

"Father, Zion is in Capricorn 1.

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"What?　What's going on?

Jin, who was curious, told the people who were still talking that he was tired and needed to rest, and returned to Capricorn 1 with Reiko.

There was Zion sitting on a seat, sitting on the floor.

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"Zion?"

"Oh ...... Jin?"

"What's wrong?　What's wrong? Are you sick?

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But Zion shook his head.

"No, it's not that. I just feel a little uncomfortable.

Hearing these words, Jin had an idea. It was no wonder that he did not feel at home in the long mysterious clan of the Gospel. After all, Zion was only 14 years old.

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"I see. Without Lucas, it must be discouraging to be alone among the other clans.

"No, it's not like that. ......

Jin put his hand on Zion's head, who was blushing and flustered, and lightly patted him on the head.

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"I'm sorry. I didn't pay enough attention to you.

"It's not Jin's fault. ......

Jin reflected that he had not been attentive enough to Zion.

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Erza and Saki came back and saw them. Erza had a complicated expression on her face. Saki had a wry smile on her face.