An Accident That Had Been Foreseen Merely Happened.

February 5.

「The appearance of the goblin corpse discovered in the underground waterways! At last, all goblins have been shot dead.」

Only after the goblin discovered by the police searching the underground waterways was found could everyone finally feel relieved. The suspicious point was that its body was full of marks where it had been bitten by beasts, and from this, they could tell that it had been attacked by animals such as cats or rats living in the underground waterways.

Since the situation became like this, the underground waterways themselves were instead recognized as dangerous places, and they were designated as places that absolutely must not be entered, with sturdier doors installed to block all entrances. As a result, people such as the homeless found it difficult to enter the underground waterways anymore.

As the goblin incident ended, people’s gazes soon gathered on those who had created this situation. They confessed to the fact that they had tried to release not only goblins but all the animals as well, and at this, everyone was horrified.

In particular, since they had not thought at all about what would happen afterward, voices condemning them continued loudly. According to this situation, a trial was held exceptionally quickly. Soon, the level of punishment for them was handed down, and it was decided that they would be imprisoned for as many as 40 years.

Originally, it would have been less than this, but because there was the pledge they had signed earlier, the level of punishment became even higher. Their families stepped forward and tried to lower the sentence, but the judge merely decided the punishment coldly.

By the time they came outside, they would probably already be very old. As for their appearances shown in the court where the trial was held, some showed pride in their actions, while most showed tears and begged for leniency, appearing regretful.

When the results of the trial regarding those who had aroused public anger among the people of the Polia Kingdom were conveyed like that, everyone’s reaction was that it felt satisfying. Of course, it was not an issue that would end there. Before anyone knew it, a large-scale activity suspension order was issued against animal and monster organizations.

Until now, their free activities had been guaranteed without paying much attention to such things, but since they had already caused a major incident, they could not be left to continue their activities as they were. The organizations related to these measures showed opposition, but there was nothing they could do about what the state had decided.

The organizations, which were forced to choose whether they would persist to the end and receive punishment or lower their signs as they were, eventually decided to lower their signs. Of course, in times like this, there was always a place that insisted on persisting to the end, but that place could only be forcibly dissolved by the police who stormed in when the time came.

There was no sympathetic public opinion toward those who were taken away. If the goblins had left the amusement park, been released, and caused an accident, it could have become a situation where their own families might have been injured or killed.

As such, people only reacted that it had been handled even better. Amid this situation, a problem regarding the amusement park came out. For now, it was the protection group that had caused the accident, but under poor management, the ones who had been breached by those sloppy people were the amusement park side.

According to this result, there were also voices saying that the amusement park side was at fault. Of course, this was something that would feel unfair from the amusement park side. The incident had occurred in a situation where they were being managed well, and they had been infiltrated by people who had deliberately come to release them.

Their argument was that it would be one thing if the animals had run out because they had mismanaged them, but what were they supposed to do about those people picking even the locks of the double doors and releasing them?

However, it was clear that they were at fault in that they had placed only one guard along the wide amusement park wall under the pretext of saving money, and had also placed a far too small number of people inside. Since the situation became like this, public opinion criticizing the amusement park was also formed.

At the entrance to the amusement park, a large number of people held demonstrations denouncing the problem regarding this incident. As the situation became like this, the amusement park side had no choice but to lower itself completely. At the same time, they showed their intention to definitely correct it. Because of this swift action, the sight of criticism began to decrease rapidly.

In truth, getting angry was something that could be done when the other party acted shamelessly, but since they immediately bowed their heads, it somehow became a situation where people could not point fingers at them. Amid this situation, the level of punishment against the amusement park was handed down.

「Punishment has been handed down against Zabro Amusement Park. The kingdom court has ordered it to suspend operations for 100 days and, at the same time, prepare an even more reliable safety system. In response, the amusement park side also actively accepted this and conveyed its intention to do its best to prepare protective measures.」

According to this decision, the amusement park had no choice but to temporarily suspend operations. In a way, the level of punishment was not that high. To begin with, since an incident had occurred, it was a situation where they should not open for a while, so it could also be called a natural suspension of operations.

In the end, according to this result, the goblin incident was concluded. With one thing and another, February was passing, and before anyone knew it, March arrived.

「The Magnia Empire officially operates passenger aircraft. From now on, movement between cities has become even faster!」

「Now the era of airplanes, not airships, has arrived. Let us travel the world using faster and safer airplanes.」

「Is the airship industry becoming obsolete? Absolutely not! The usefulness of airships is limitless, and they will be able to carry many passengers and large amounts of cargo in the future as well. The airship business will continue to cruise smoothly going forward.」

「Airplanes with cruising ranges far too short compared to airships? Rather, taking off and landing may be troublesome.」

The Magnia Empire formally unveiled passenger aircraft in earnest. Since they had already prepared in advance, from the moment March 1 arrived, they began operating dozens of passenger aircraft. Since it was a situation being shown for the first time, it stimulated the curiosity of many people, and at this, everyone purchased tickets.

The price was fairly expensive, but for nobles, it was not a burden, and the fact that they could ride an airplane was enough for them to pay the price. Like that, operations began, and those who rode these airplanes admired the result of arriving at their destinations at a faster speed compared to slow airships.

Of course, there was the problem of a short cruising range, but there were advantages in that they could fly 1,100 km at once, and after landing at an airport, they could depart immediately as long as fuel was injected and filled. They even revealed through results that they could arrive at their destinations faster than airships.

Amid the Magnia Empire’s movements of operating passenger aircraft with around 40 people aboard, other countries also seemed stimulated by this and had no choice but to hurry into the development of transport aircraft. However, since most countries were currently struggling with funds, development could only be delayed.

If there was a place that was at least fast, it was the Polia Kingdom, but since they had only produced prototypes and were in the final stage of development, unless they announced it, people still did not think that the Polia Kingdom was showing such a development speed.

Like this, at the moment the world was accepting a changing world through the use of newly unveiled passenger aircraft, one incident was about to happen.

March 11.

Buuung—

The appearance of a massive airship moving along the deep-blue ocean could be seen. This airship, which had a massive body reaching 300 m in length alone, was leisurely moving toward its destination.

In truth, this massive airship was undertaking a challenge that had not existed until now. It was none other than crossing a wide ocean called the Sea of Slaves and conducting intercontinental travel.

In truth, through the Sea of Abundance located to the east of the Old Continent, intercontinental travel had succeeded long ago. Since the Sea of Abundance had islands here and there, there were many places where they could easily land, so they had been able to easily leap across the sea and cross to the continent.

However, this place called the Sea of Slaves was a place where only the sea existed, with few islands, so they had no choice but to keep moving no matter what. Until now, it had been possible because they had moved along the safe northern route, but crossing the vast ocean directly had been something close to impossible until now.

This airship was carrying out such a mission. The reason they had not attempted such a reckless challenge until now was that there had been no particular need to do so.

However, airship manufacturing companies had heard news about airplanes in advance, and because they realized this would become a threat to them, they held a massive event and took on this challenge. As could be seen, the result was successful.

Far away, land could be seen. The identity of this land was none other than the massive island where the Polia Kingdom was located. Originally, they had planned to make the Doicheun Empire the destination, but since it was a place they had even fought a war against in the past, they judged that there was a risk of terrorism and decided on the Polia Kingdom as the destination.

Inside the bridge of the airship Reini.

“Captain, it seems we will soon arrive at Pullea, the capital of the Polia Kingdom.”

“Mm, we have finally arrived.”

“It was a moment that felt truly longer than usual.”

“Indeed. There were dizzying moments too, and in many ways, it was a flight close to an adventure.”

The captain of this airship, Theor, recalled the moment when the airship had shaken here and there due to the strong winds that had blown over the ocean earlier. There had been a moment when, if they had lacked power, they might have fallen straight toward the ocean. Fortunately, they regained power and were able to soar back into the sky.

“If possible, I should decline crossing a wide ocean next time.”

“Indeed. It would have been much shorter and safer if we had safely hugged the north instead.”

“It could not be helped. This flight is a massive event being held to show the whole world how useful our airship is.”

“That is true. By the way, airplanes will be used a lot in the future, won’t they?”

“They will. Technology will develop, and someday, even larger airplanes will appear. Then they will be able to move with more people and more cargo, will they not?”

“Even so, I think the usefulness of airships is much greater. To begin with, compared to airplanes that cannot stop, airships that can stop in the sky are much safer, are they not?”

At the words of the first officer, who spoke as if proud, Captain Theor nodded as if agreeing. He, too, thought airships were the best. At that moment, the first officer spoke with a slightly worried expression.

“However, why did they decide on the capital of the Polia Kingdom as the destination of all places? You know, don’t you? The incident from a dozen or so years ago when an airship traveling around the world nearly crashed as soon as it arrived here.”

It was a fairly famous anecdote among airship captains, one that Captain Theor also knew. The person who had secretly boarded at that time was none other than the current emperor of the Magnia Empire, Emperor Jedic. If he had nearly crashed at that time, it would have been a truly terrible disaster, so everyone remembered being very shocked.

“Originally, they tried to make the Doicheun Empire the destination, but you know, do you not? The fact that our Magnia Empire was at war with them until only a few years ago. Since they would not view our airship favorably, they had no choice but to decide on the Polia Kingdom, which was a neutral nation.”

“That would be true. More importantly, this time, they will not choose the same place as back then for the landing site, right?”

“They said that because strong winds might blow unexpectedly, they prepared a landing site elsewhere this time.”

“That is a relief. Since the place where we will land is somewhere else.”

Was it at the moment he said that? One of the crew members who was keeping watch of the surroundings hurriedly reported what he had discovered.

“Unidentified aircraft are approaching from the three o’clock direction!”

“Aircraft? Are they fighters from the Polia Kingdom Air Force?”

“Would that not probably be the case? They are supposed to come out to meet us in advance.”

At the moment they exchanged that conversation, what was slowly approaching were fighters belonging to the Polia Kingdom Air Force. The identity of the fighters was the Polia Kingdom’s current main fighter, developed in 1910 and called the “Dragan,” which had also been active in the Great War.

Buuung—bung—buuung—

Before anyone knew it, the sight of about ten fighters passing by the airship could be seen. After confirming the appearance of those fighters, the first officer spoke to Captain Theor in a somewhat interested voice.

“They are Dragans, the main fighters of the Polia Kingdom.”

“Do you know that they also have the nickname of the fighter of all nations?”

“Yes, I know well. There are many anecdotes saying that they were sold to both forces that fought the Great War, and that the same aircraft fought dogfights against each other with only their colors changed.”

The Polia Kingdom sold fighters to both forces during the Great War. As such, this Dragan was being used in almost every country. In truth, during the early stage of the war, if they entered a dogfight, they were always on the side that was beaten, but as the war continued, quite a lot of improvements had been made.

As such, by now, it had become a fighter called a masterpiece, enough to show sufficient performance. Before anyone knew it, those fighters approached through a turn, reduced their speed, and began flying side by side with the airship at a similar speed.

At the sight of them shaking their double-layered wings and giving a signal that they would accompany them, Captain Theor and the crew members waved their hands toward those fighters. Amid this sight, the airship that flew leisurely was soon able to enter toward the massive city located ahead.

Buuung—bung—bubung—

The fighters were flying ahead in the lead, and behind them, the massive airship followed as it moved. The people living here in the capital Pullea were looking up at the sky and watching this sight.

Those walking on the streets raised their heads, and those riding in cars also looked up at the sky. Meanwhile, even those who were working were taking time to watch like a brief amusement at the sight of the massive airship that began to be seen through the windows.

Amid these gazes, the airship crossed the capital and soon left the downtown area as it moved toward the place designated as the landing site. A landing field had been prepared on a wide site with almost no buildings, and here, people from the Polia Kingdom side, many reporters, and even executives from the Magnia Empire’s airship companies were present.

At the sight of the airship slowly appearing, many people began capturing the appearance of this airship on video. Since it was a massive event, and they had promoted it as the first airship to directly cross the wide ocean, there were many people who had come to watch.

Amid this sight, the fighter formation passed by and turned, and the airship Jeini soon began slowly descending toward the landing field. Many mooring ropes were coming down, and at this, those below moved to grab these ropes.

The landing was proceeding smoothly like that. But at that moment, flames flashed on the side of the hull. And in an instant, the size of the flames grew, and before anyone knew it, they became uncontrollably large, with the flames covering the entire airship.

At this sight, the people watching below screamed and scattered. At that moment, the airship engulfed in flames began to fall helplessly toward the ground as it was. As if telling its future fate, the fallen airship came down as if being slammed into the ground.

It was the sight of the airship burning, and those who saw that could not help but be shocked.