Chapter 65: To the Moonlight Kingdom

Chapter 65: To the Moonlight Kingdom

(Arthur POV)

The next day, I decide to pour my energy into the computer development and "Dragon Ball" manga. With two weeks before the Moonlight Kingdom film festival, it's the perfect time to make some headway on these projects.

In the lab, I find Drake and Josh hunched over a mess of circuits and code. Their dwarven craftsmanship is evident in the meticulous way they've arranged each component.

"How's it going, guys?" I ask, peering at their work.

Drake looks up, his eyes bright with excitement. "We're making real progress, boss. We've developed unique machine code for each hardware component."

Josh nods, adding, "And we're designing the assembly language around it. It's like creating a new dialect for each part of the computer to communicate."

I lean in, examining their work. "By tailoring the code to each component, we can optimize performance."

"Yes," Drake grins. "It's more work up front, but it'll make the final product much more efficient."

"How long until we see a working prototype?" I ask.

Josh scratches his beard thoughtfully. "At this rate, maybe two months? It's hard to say for sure. We're in uncharted territory here."

I nod, understanding the complexity of what we're attempting. "Two months sounds ambitious, but achievable. Keep up the good work."

As I'm about to leave, Drake calls out, "Boss, wait a second."

I turn back, raising an eyebrow. "What's up?"

Drake and Josh exchange a glance before Drake continues, "We just wanted to say thanks. All this knowledge, these ideas... they're from you. We're just following your instructions."

Josh nods in agreement. "We wouldn't even know where to start without your guidance."

Their words catch me off guard. For a moment, I'm not sure how to respond. It's true that my knowledge from another life is driving this project, but their skill and dedication are what's making it a reality.

"I appreciate that," I say with a genuine smile. "But don't sell yourselves short. Your expertise is what's turning these ideas into reality."

Drake and Josh exchange a look, their faces beaming with pride. Josh speaks up, "We still want to thank you. Without you, we'd never have known such advanced engine knowledge was even possible."

I nod, studying her face. "That's right. Are you excited? It's your homeland, after all."

Her eyebrows rise in surprise. "Homeland? Actually, no. I don't live in the Moonlight Kingdom. I'm from..." She hesitates before finishing, "the Roses Kingdom."

"The Roses Kingdom? On the Eden Continent?" I can't hide my surprise. "That's unexpected."

Firfel's eyes narrow slightly. "What's unexpected about it?"

"Nothing," I backpedal quickly, realizing I've stumbled into sensitive territory.

As an awkward silence threatens to descend, I scramble for a way to recover. "I just... I guess I assumed all elves were from the Moonlight Kingdom. Shows what I know, huh?" I offer a self-deprecating smile. "Maybe you can teach me more about the Roses Kingdom on the flight?"

Firfel's expression softens slightly. "Perhaps," she says, a hint of mystery in her voice.

I'm saved from further fumbling by the arrival of Fart and Ray.

Fart and Ray started greeting me and the cast. After a two-hour wait, our airship finally docks. We board along with the other passengers, and I can't help but marvel at the vessel. It's like a seagoing ship, but with the ability to fly.

As we settle into our seats, I notice the complex array of magical runes and crystals that seem to control the airship's direction and altitude. It's fascinating, but also looks incredibly complicated.

Firfel leans over, a teasing glint in her eye. "First time on an airship, Arthur?"

I nod, trying to maintain my composure. "Yeah. What about it?"

She grins mischievously. "Oh, nothing. Just hope you're not afraid of heights. Or sudden drops. Or unexpected magical turbulence."

I roll my eyes, turning back to the window. As we take off, I can't help but compare this airship to the airplanes from my previous life. The differences become apparent quickly.

The takeoff is jerky, lacking the smooth acceleration of a jet engine. Our ascent is uneven, the magical propulsion seemingly struggling against gravity. The cabin noise is actually louder than I expected, filled with the hum of active spells and creaking wood.

As we level off, I notice our speed seems significantly slower than a commercial airliner. The ride is bumpier too, each gust of wind causing noticeable shifts.

It dawns on me that while this airship is impressive for this world, it's vastly inferior to the airplanes I once knew. The magic-based technology, while versatile, lacks the refined engineering and consistent power of jet engines and aerodynamic designs.

The journey to the Moonlight Kingdom is long but not uneventful. We pass the time with conversations, shared meals at various stops, and catching up on sleep when we can. After two days of travel, we finally arrive at our destination.